1 samuel 27:6 - Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: therefore Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this day.

Generated Verse: 1 samuel 27:6

What does "1 samuel 27:6" mean?


This verse from 1 Samuel 27:6 is a seemingly simple statement with a bit of historical and political weight behind it. Let's break it down:

"Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day..." This refers to Achish, the king of Gath, giving the town of Ziklag to David as a place to live. David had sought refuge in Philistine territory to escape King Saul's relentless pursuit. Achish, believing David had turned against his own people, granted him Ziklag.

"...therefore Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this day." This is the key part. It means that from the time Achish gave it to David, Ziklag remained under the control of the kings of Judah, even up to the time when 1 Samuel was being written (or at least edited). This implies several things:

Permanent Possession: The gift wasn't temporary. Ziklag was integrated into the territory governed by David and his successors.
Legitimate Claim: The author is asserting that the kings of Judah had a legitimate right to Ziklag, based on Achish's original grant to David. It wasn't just a land grab or a territory taken by force.
Historical Significance: This verse preserves a historical memory that Ziklag's unique status as a Judean town originated from a Philistine king's grant. This is somewhat unusual since Judah and Philistia were often in conflict.
Territorial Integrity: It's a statement about the borders and extent of the kingdom of Judah. It's saying, "This is part of our land, and it has been since David's time."

In essence, the verse is a historical marker that establishes the origin and legitimacy of Judah's claim to the town of Ziklag. It highlights a specific point in history when a Philistine king ceded control of the town to David, and this transfer has lasting implications for the territorial boundaries of Judah.