At David's request for a residence in the country, removed from the royal city, the king graciously granted Ziklag as a possession. David realized that it would be dangerous for himself and his men to be under the influence of idolaters. In a town wholly separated for their use they might worship God with more freedom than they could if they remained in Gath, where the heathen rites could not but prove a source of evil and annoyance.

Da David bad om at måtte bo på landet i stedet for i hovedstaden, skænkede kongen ham beredvilligt Ziklag. David var klar over, at det var farligt for både ham selv og hans mænd at leve under afgudsdyrkeres indflydelse. Hvis de kom til at bo i en by helt for sig selv, kunne de tjene Gud mere frit end i Gat, hvor det ikke kunne undgås, at de hedenske skikke øvede en dårlig indflydelse over dem.