Shmuel Alef 26:2

2 Then Sha’ul arose, and went down to the midbar Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Yisroel with him, to search for Dovid in the midbar Ziph.

Shmuel Alef 26:2 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 26:2

Then Saul arose
Immediately, glad of an opportunity to seize on David, having the same disposition towards him as ever; and perhaps had repented he had not laid hold on him when he followed him out of the cave:

and went down to the wilderness of Ziph:
or towards it:

having three thousand chosen men of Israel;
young men, so called, because usually chosen for business, and for war particularly, rather than old men; the same number he took with him when he sought him at Engedi, ( 1 Samuel 24:2 ) ;

to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph;
where or whereabouts he was informed by the Ziphites he was.

Shmuel Alef 26:2 In-Context

1 6 And the Ziphim came unto Sha’ul at Giveah, saying, Doth not Dovid hide himself in the hill of Chachilah, which faces Yeshimon?

2 Then Sha’ul arose, and went down to the midbar Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Yisroel with him, to search for Dovid in the midbar Ziph.

3 And Sha’ul encamped in the hill of Chachilah, which faces Yeshimon, beside the derech (road). But Dovid stayed in the midbar, and he saw that Sha’ul came after him into the midbar.

4 Dovid therefore sent out scouts, and understood that Sha’ul had indeed come.

5 And Dovid arose, and came to the makom where Sha’ul had encamped; and Dovid beheld the makom where Sha’ul lay down, and Avner Ben Ner, the sar of his tzava (army); and Sha’ul was lying in the camp, and HaAm encamped round about him.