David Spares Saul's Life, 1860 woodcut by Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld

Ziph (Hebrew: זיף, romanized: Zîp̄) was a town in the Judean Mountains (Joshua 15:55) south-east of Hebron. Here David hid himself from Saul (1 Samuel 23:19; Psalm 54). The name of Zif is found about four miles south of Hebron, attached to a rounded hill of some 100 feet in height, which is called Tell Zif. Its name appears on a number of LMLK seals along with those of Hebron, Socoh and MMST.[1] It has been identified as the Palestinian village of Zif, Hebron.

From archaeology

Scholars debate the interpretation of the word Z(Y)F on LMLK seals. It may be a reference to an economic center established at the site south-east of Hebron during the reign of King Hezekiah (circa 700 BC), or it may be a literal votive inscription meaning "battlement", "flowing", "mouthful", "pinnacle", or "supply" (Grena, 2004, pp. 51, 360–2).

See also

  • Zif, the modern-day Palestinian village near Hebron

References

  1. ↑ Naʼaman, Nadav (2005). Ancient Israel and Its Neighbors: Interaction and Counteraction. Eisenbrauns. pp. 164–165. ISBN 9781575061085. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  • Grena, G.M. (2004). LMLK--A Mystery Belonging to the King vol. 1. Redondo Beach, California: 4000 Years of Writing History. ISBN 0-9748786-0-X.
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