I Samuel 23:20 · Bible study
1 Samuel 23:20 Commentary: The Treachery of the Ziphites
Hebrew · 5 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Study page on I Samuel 23:20 analyzing the Ziphites' betrayal of David, its historical context, and theological significance.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The Ziphites offer to deliver David into Saul's hand, betraying their own countryman to gain favor with the king.
- Key words: “desire” (avvah, deep longing), “soul” (nephesh, whole being), “deliver up” (sagar, to shut up or hand over).
- Main debate: No significant debate; all traditions regard it as an act of self-serving treachery.
- Geological theme: Human betrayal cannot thwart God's plan; loyalty to God's anointed is tested and rewarded.
- Best use: A cautionary tale against choosing political expediency over faithfulness to God's chosen purpose.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
Now therefore, O king, come down. According to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part will be to deliver him up into the king’s hand.”
KJV King James Version 1769
Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Now therefore, O king, come down, according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him up into the king’s hand.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And, now, by all the desire of thy soul, O king, to come down, come down, and ours is to shut him up into the hand of the king.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And now, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and it will be for us to deliver him up into the king's hand.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Now therefore come down, as thy soul hath desired to come down: and it shall be our business to deliver him into the king's hands.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Por tanto, rey, desciende ahora presto, según todo el deseo de tu alma, y nosotros lo entregaremos en la mano del rey.
Portanto, rei, desce agora logo, segundo todo aquele desejo de tua alma, e nós o entregaremos na mão do rei.
Descends donc, ô roi, puisque c’ est là tout le désir de ton âme; et à nous de le livrer entre les mains du roi.
So komme nun der König hernieder nach all seines Herzens Begehr, so wollen wir ihn überantworten in des Königs Hände.
Nu dan, o koning, kom spoedig af naar al de begeerte uwer ziel; en het komt ons toe hem over te geven in de hand des konings.
Scendi dunque, o re, giacché tutto il desiderio dell’anima tua e di scendere, e penserem noi a darlo nelle mani del re”.
Przetoż teraz według wszystkiej żądności duszy twojej, królu, zejdź co najrychlej, a my się postaramy, że go wydamy w ręce królewskie.
итак по желанию души твоей, царь, иди; а наше дело будет предать его в руки царя.
王啊， 請你隨 你的心 願 下 來，我們必 親自將他交 在王 的手裡。」
So now, O king, have your soul's desire and come down, and we, for our part, will give him up into the king's hands.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 23:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree: the Ziphites' offer to Saul is a calculated act of betrayal. Matthew Henry describes them as offering “their service to Saul, to betray David.” Keil and Delitzsch note the “striking contrast” between this treachery and Jonathan's covenant loyalty moments earlier. Gill's Exposition observes that the Ziphites offer to deliver David “into the king's hand” so that Saul would be spared the trouble of coming down himself, an attempt to curry favor with the king. The Geneva Bible renders it plainly: “our part shall be to deliver him into the King's hands.” There is no debate: the Ziphites, David's own tribesmen, choose political self-preservation over faithfulness to God's anointed. This consensus highlights the moral gravity of their words: what sounds like a service to the king is a betrayal of the Lord's chosen servant.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The Ziphites are offering to deliver David into Saul's hand, an act of betrayal for their own benefit.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Motivation of the Ziphites | All interpreters see their action as a betrayal motivated by self-interest. | Some emphasize political calculation (Gill), while others highlight the contrast with Jonathan's selfless loyalty (Keil). |
| Moral evaluation of their offer | It is universally understood as an act of treachery against David. | The Ziphites themselves may have seen it as loyalty to the reigning king, but the narrative clearly condemns it by juxtaposition with Jonathan. |
| God's role in the betrayal | The story shows that God protects David despite human schemes. | Some see God's sovereignty as permitting the betrayal to test David; others emphasize human free will and responsibility in the act. |
Historical & Cultural Context
At this point in the narrative, David has fled from Saul and is hiding in the wilderness of Ziph, a region in the hill country of Judah (I Samuel 23:14). The Ziphites are inhabitants of this area, David's own countrymen, part of the tribe of Judah. Keil and Delitzsch describe the hill of Ziph as a flattened hill about a hundred feet high, offering a clear panorama of David's movements. The Ziphites could see David and his men “moving to and fro” and promptly informed Saul of his location.
Their offer to Saul comes after a poignant scene: Jonathan had just visited David, strengthening his hand in God and renewing their covenant (vv. 16, 18). The Ziphites' betrayal is a stark reversal of that loyalty.
The phrase “according to all the desire of your soul” echoes a formula used elsewhere in Scripture (Deuteronomy 18:6), often denoting a deep, personal longing. Here it is used to entice Saul, whose “soul” is consumed with hunting David. The Ziphites exploit this obsession.
Geographically, Saul is at Gibeah (higher ground), and David is in the desert of Ziph to the south. The Ziphites invite Saul to “come down”, a physical descent that also symbolizes a moral descent into complicity with a king who is pursuing God's chosen one. The later context shows that despite this betrayal, God thwarts Saul's plan through a Philistine invasion (vv. 27, 28), showing that no human scheme can overturn God's purpose.
The Ziphites' action is not just political expediency; it is a violation of kinship loyalty. In ancient Israel, one's clan was expected to protect its members. By offering to hand over David, the Ziphites align themselves with the dying regime of Saul rather than with the future God has promised through David. Their choice mirrors the perennial human temptation to side with power rather than with God's hidden purposes.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries and lexical sources note no significant textual variants for I Samuel 23:20. The Hebrew text stands firm across manuscripts.
Reception History
Across church history, this verse has been read as a stark example of betrayal. Early Christian writers sometimes saw parallels with Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Christ, though the Ziphites acted out of tribal expediency. Reformation-era commentators such as Matthew Henry and the Geneva Bible highlighted the treachery as a warning against placing human alliances above God's anointed. In Reformed tradition, this passage illustrates the cost of following God's chosen leader and the assurance that God delivers his faithful despite betrayal.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Offer of Betrayal (v.20a): The Ziphites invite the king down to seize David, using flattery and an appeal to his deepest desire.
- The Promise of Delivery (v.20b): They pledge to hand him over, taking responsibility for the capture.
- The Contrast of Loyalty (Context): Jonathan's covenant of selfless love (vv.16, 18) stands in stark opposition to the Ziphites' self-serving treachery.
Five-point outline
- The Setting: David in the wilderness, hunted by a king who should be his protector.
- The Informants: The Ziphites, from David's own tribe, offer to betray him.
- The Invitation: “Come down… according to all the desire of your soul.”
- The Promise: “Our part shall be to deliver him.”
- The Outcome: God delivers David through a Philistine invasion, proving His sovereignty over human schemes.
Illustration hooks
- A coworker who feeds confidential information to the boss to gain promotion, sacrificing a colleague.
- A neighbor who reports a fugitive to the authorities for a reward, ignoring the person's need.
- The pull to side with the current power rather than the underdog, especially when loyalty costs something.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why would people from David's own tribe betray him?
- How do we stay loyal to God when the powerful oppose us?
- Can God protect us even when those closest to us turn against us?
Leading a Discussion
The Ziphites' offer to Saul raises hard questions about loyalty, fear, and self-interest. As you read this passage, consider how it reflects human nature and God's faithfulness.
Discussion questions
- What do the Ziphites promise Saul? (Observation)
- Why do you think they take the initiative to inform Saul? (Interpretation)
- How does this episode contrast with Jonathan's visit to David in verses 16, 18? (Comparison)
- What does the phrase “according to all the desire of your soul” reveal about Saul's motivation? (Interpretation)
- How did Saul respond to the Ziphites? What does that show about his mindset? (Observation)
- In what situations are we tempted to betray others for personal gain? (Application)
- How does God's protection of David (seen in the later Philistine invasion) encourage trust in His sovereignty? (Theological reflection)
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Deuteronomy 18:6 | If a Levite comes from any of your gates out of all Israel where he lives, and comes with all the desire of his soul to the place which Yahweh shall choose, |
| I Samuel 23:12 | Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” Yahweh said, “They will deliver you up.” |
| II Samuel 3:21 | Abner said to David, “I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires.” David sent Abner away; and he went in peace. |
| I Kings 21:11 | The men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had instructed them in the letters which she had written and sent to them. |
| I Kings 21:14 | Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.” |
| II Kings 10:5 | He who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders also, and those who raised the children, sent to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, and will do all that you ask us. We will not make any man king. You do that which is good in your eyes.” |
| II Kings 10:7 | When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and killed them, even seventy people, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezreel. |
| Psalms 54:3 | For strangers have risen up against me. Violent men have sought after my soul. They haven’t set God before them. Selah. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
5 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes focus on the speakers' pledge to hand the man over to the king exactly as he wishes. Their phrase "according to all that thine heart can desire" underscores complete compliance with the king's will, presenting themselves as eager enforcers of his command.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights the Ziphites' flexible offer to Saul: they give him the option to come down himself and capture David, or if he prefers, they will seize David and deliver him directly to the king, saving Saul the trouble. This presents their proposal as fully accommodating to Saul's wishes.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch highlight the stark contrast between Jonathan's loyal covenant with David and the Ziphites' immediate betrayal. They note that the hill of Ziph offered a panoramic view, allowing the Ziphites to track David's movements and report his hiding place to Saul. This geographical detail underscores the calculated nature of the treachery.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that David acted not on his own initiative but only after repeatedly seeking God's will through the high priest's ephod—the divine authorization he needed since Saul, the theocratic king, had abandoned his duty. God's guidance and deliverance in this episode prove that David, though hunted, remained the chosen and protected anointed one.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes the irony that David placed special confidence in the Ziphites because they were his own tribesmen,