Uncovering the Ancient City of Ziklag: David's Sanctuary

About a thousand years ago, a peculiar sight could be seen in Israel: the Israeli camp, led by King Saul, set up near the renowned spring of Ein Yizrael, the site where Jezebel would later meet her end. Below them at Aphek, the Philistine rulers moved in hundreds and thousands—an immense army poised for battle against Israel and their king. Following them was a striking red-haired young hero with beautiful eyes, David, son of Jesse, along with his men. Achish, the Philistine king of Gath, harbored no ill will towards David; David was his ally. Achish had even gifted him the city of Ziklag. Historically, Ziklag belonged to Judah, but the Philistines had taken it about a hundred years earlier.

David was anointed by the prophet Samuel to be king, but Saul did not acknowledge this. Hence, David reigned over a small group from the tribe of Judah, with Ziklag as his seat of power. For three days, David was absent from Ziklag, meeting with Achish and preparing to build his empire. He did not involve himself in the war between Saul and the Philistines, since Saul sought to kill him. Upon his return to Ziklag, David was met with devastation. The Amalekites had carried out a terrible massacre, burned the city, and stolen its plunder, while taking the women and children captive, including David’s wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel. David's men wanted to stone him, for they believed his absence brought disaster. However, David consulted Abiathar the priest and sought guidance using the Urim and Thummim, asking if he should pursue the Amalekites. Despite being outnumbered, the divine answer was clear: "Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and save."

David and his 600 men launched a swift pursuit, each second crucial to the fate of the captives. They headed south towards the Amalekites, located in what is now modern Gaza. David and most of his men crossed the Besor Brook, known today as Eshel Park. Two hundred of his men stayed back to guard the baggage and provisions, but David pressed on, energized by the divine assurance, reaching the outskirts of Rafah. There they found an Amalekite slave who showed them the exact location of the Amalekite encampment, reveling in the loot from Ziklag. For an entire day, David and his men struck the Amalekites, annihilating them, except for a group that escaped on camels into the desert. All captives were freed. They also seized vast additional plunder from the Amalekite camp, which had thrived off raiding.

Returning to Ziklag with jubilation and dancing, a dispute arose. The warriors claimed rights over the additional spoils for their efforts, while those who had stayed behind contended they were part of the army by securing the supplies. David listened attentively and ruled: divided equally. More than that, he established this as a permanent law in Israel: "Who will listen to you in this matter? For as is the share of the one who goes down to battle, so shall be the share of the one who stays by the equipment, they shall share alike, making it a statute and ordinance in Israel to this day" (1 Samuel 30).

So, where exactly was David's city, Ziklag, the site of liberation and the enactment of King David's first law?

German researcher Alt identified it at Tel Halif in the northern Negev, near the Lahav Forest, leading the governmental naming committee to christen the nearby settlement "Ziklag" after the Biblical city. However, over time, scholars doubted this identification, finding it inconsistent with the Biblical topographical description. The name "Ziklag" for the settlement was annulled, and it was renamed "Lahav." In 2019, archaeologist Professor Garfinkel proposed identifying Ziklag at Khirbet er-Rai, between Kiryat Gat and Lachish, where the "Yaar Hamalachim" (Angels' Forest) is today. Findings indicate Philistines inhabited the site until David's time, when it then fell under Judean control. This sounded promising until it became clear the location was incorrect; Ziklag was in the Negev, relatively closer to Gaza, not in the lowlands.

In 2020, Professor Moshe Garstiel discovered a site that fits all the Biblical descriptions, timelines, and military maneuvers perfectly. The key revelation was the name of the place: Tel es-Sera. In Arabic, this translates to "Law and Judgement," named after the law and justice David established there. The valley beneath, which played a role in their march to battle, is named "Wadi Saria," also commemorating the event. The site's shape even explains Ziklag’s name: viewed from above, it resembles a small basket, referred to in Biblical language as a "Ziklon." This identification has gained widespread acceptance.