Ziph

Ziph (meaning: falsehood; flowing) is the name of a man and of two cities. (1.) A descendant of Judah through Jehaleleel (1 Chr. 4:16). (2.) A city in the southern Negeb of Judah (Josh. 15:24), probably near the pass of Sufah. (3.) A city in the hill country of Judah (Josh. 15:55), identified with Tell ez-Zif, about five miles southeast of Hebron. This third Ziph is the most prominent: David hid in the wilderness near it during his flight from Saul (1 Sam. 23:19), and the Ziphites twice betrayed his location to Saul. Psalm 54 is titled "when the Ziphites came and told Saul." The city was later fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chr. 11:8).