Girzites גִּזְרִי
A people group David raided while living among the Philistines.
Who is Girzites in the Bible?
The Girzites were an ancient people group mentioned only once in Scripture, in 1 Samuel 27:8, during a period when David was living among the Philistines in the city of Ziklag. While residing there, David and his men conducted raids against the Girzites along with the Geshurites and Amalekites, groups that inhabited the region from Telam to Shur, east of Egypt. According to the biblical account, David attacked these peoples, left no survivors, and plundered their livestock and possessions. The exact identity and precise location of the Girzites remain unknown, as they appear nowhere else in biblical or historical records, making them a relatively obscure people group whose significance lies mainly in marking a morally questionable period in David's life before he became king of Israel.
Biography
The Girzites are mentioned only once in the Bible, in 1Sa.27.8. While David was living in the Philistine city of Ziklag, he and his men went on raids against the Girzites, along with the Geshurites and the Amalekites. These groups were described as having inhabited the land "from Telam as far as Shur, to the east of Egypt." David attacked these groups, leaving no survivors, and took their possessions, including livestock and clothing. The exact location and identity of the Girzites remain unknown, as they are not mentioned in any other historical or biblical records.
In Scripture
1 biblical book1 Samuel 1 verse
- 1 Samuel 27:8
"Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these people had inhabited the land extending to Shur and Egypt.)"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Hebrew | גִּזְרִי |