Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Noen menn fra Sif dro opp til Saul der han var i Gibea. De sa: «David gjemmer seg hos oss i festningene i skogen, ved Hakilahøyden, sør for Jesjimon. Derfor kan du, konge, komme ned. Du ønsker jo så sterkt å ta David. Vi lover å sørge for at du skal få tak i ham der.» Da sa Saul: «Måtte Herren velsigne dere for at dere har medlidenhet med meg. Gå nå og finn ut hvor gjemmestedet hans er. Jeg må få vite det sikkert, for jeg har hørt at han er veldig lur. Dere må finne alle mulige gjemmesteder hvor han kan skjule seg. Kom så tilbake til meg med sikker beskjed. Da vil jeg bli med dere. Om han er i dette landet, skal jeg finne ham, om jeg så må lete blant alle folk i Juda!»
What Does This Mean?
The Ziphites told Saul that David was hiding in the hills near a place called Hachilah. They were informing on David, telling Saul where to find him.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're playing hide-and-seek. The Ziphites are like the kids telling on where David is hiding so that Saul can find him. It's like saying, 'David is hiding behind that big tree near the playground! '
Historical Background
1 Samuel was written by Samuel, Nathan, and Gad, and covers the period from the birth of Samuel to the death of Saul. This verse is part of the narrative describing the conflict between Saul and David. The Ziphites are from a town in the Judean foothills and are informing on David, who is a fugitive at this time.
Living It Out Today
In modern times, this could apply to situations where someone informs on a friend or colleague to authority figures, like a coworker telling on another for taking a break. It highlights the importance of loyalty and the consequences of betrayal.
The Ziphites likely informed on David out of fear or loyalty to Saul, possibly to protect themselves from Saul's wrath if he suspected them of harboring David.
What was the hill of Hachilah?
The hill of Hachilah was a location where David was hiding from Saul. It was a place that provided natural protection and cover for David and his followers.
How does this verse fit into the broader narrative of Saul and David?
This verse is part of the ongoing narrative of Saul's pursuit of David. It shows the increasing pressure on David as more people inform on his whereabouts.
What can we learn from the betrayal in this verse?
We can learn about the complexity of loyalty and the consequences of betrayal. It also highlights the moral dilemmas people face when pressured to inform on others.