1 Samuel 26:2
Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
Original Language Analysis
וַיָּ֣קָם
arose
H6965
וַיָּ֣קָם
arose
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
1 of 17
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
וַיֵּ֙רֶד֙
and went down
H3381
וַיֵּ֙רֶד֙
and went down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
3 of 17
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
בְּמִדְבַּר
in the wilderness
H4057
בְּמִדְבַּר
in the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
5 of 17
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
זִֽיף׃
of Ziph
H2128
זִֽיף׃
of Ziph
Strong's:
H2128
Word #:
6 of 17
ziph, the name of a place in palestine; also of an israelite
וְאִתּ֛וֹ
H854
וְאִתּ֛וֹ
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
7 of 17
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
שְׁלֹֽשֶׁת
having three
H7969
שְׁלֹֽשֶׁת
having three
Strong's:
H7969
Word #:
8 of 17
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
אֲלָפִ֥ים
thousand
H505
אֲלָפִ֥ים
thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
9 of 17
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
אִ֖ישׁ
men
H376
אִ֖ישׁ
men
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
10 of 17
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
12 of 17
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ
with him to seek
H1245
לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ
with him to seek
Strong's:
H1245
Word #:
13 of 17
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
14 of 17
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Historical Context
Three thousand men represented a significant military force in ancient Israel, likely comprising multiple battalions with their commanders. This force would have been capable of engaging major military threats, yet Saul deployed them for a personal manhunt in the Judean wilderness.
Questions for Reflection
- What responsibilities have you neglected while pursuing lesser concerns driven by fear or jealousy?
- How can obsessive focus on perceived threats blind us to our actual calling?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Saul's mobilization of three thousand elite soldiers to pursue one man reveals the tragic obsession that consumed Israel's first king. The Hebrew term 'bachur' (chosen men) indicates these were Israel's finest warriors, diverted from defending the nation against Philistine threats to hunt David. This misallocation of resources illustrates how jealousy and fear can cause leaders to neglect their primary responsibilities while pursuing personal vendettas. Saul's descent continues as he prioritizes eliminating a perceived rival over shepherding God's people.