Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
ZUPH, THE LAND OF, the farthest point of the journey of Saul, and where he encountered Samuel at a certain city, the name of which is not given. 1 Sam 9:5-6. The whole of this journey has been a curious puzzle in Scripture topography, "for the starting-point is unknown, the point to which he returned doubtful," and the intermediate places have not been satisfactorily identified. Some resemblance to Zuph was thought to be found in Sola, 7 miles
west of Jerusalem and 5 miles southwest of Neby Samwil. Conder notes that the Targum on the passage connects the name "Zuph" with the root zephah, meaning "to shine," and hence "to be conspicuous," whence come the words "Zephathah," "Zophim," "Zephir," and "Mizpeh." In other Targums the words "Zophira " and "Mizpeh" are used indiscriminately in speaking of one place, both words being applicable to a "watch-tower" or city in an elevated situation.
"Zuph" was, however, also the name of a man, and it is not impossible that the land of Zuph may have been named after him. 1 Sam 1:1. In the first case the city in the land of Zuph would possibly be Shufa: in the second it would be Bethlehem, the home of Zuph. See Mizpeh.