Ziklag

Ziklag was a city located in the Negev region of Judah, initially allotted to the tribe of Judah (Jos.15:31) and later to Simeon (Jos.19:5; 1Ch.4:30). The Philistine king Achish of Gath gave the city to David when he fled from King Saul (1Sa.27:6). David and his men lived there for over a year, making raids on the Geshurites, Girzites, and Amalekites (1Sa.27:8-9). While David and his men were away, the Amalekites attacked and burned Ziklag, taking captive the women and children (1Sa.30:1-2). David pursued them, defeated them, and recovered all that was taken (1Sa.30:18-20). David sent some of the spoils from this victory to his friends in Judah (1Sa.30:26). After Saul's death, David departed from Ziklag to go to Hebron (2Sa.1:1). During David's reign, some Benjamites and Manassites defected to him at Ziklag (1Ch.12:1,20). In the time of Nehemiah, Ziklag was reinhabited by the people of Judah (Neh.11:28). Its exact location is uncertain.