1 Samuel 23:24

KJV

And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men [were] in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they arose {H6965}, and went {H3212} to Ziph {H2128} before {H6440} Saul {H7586}: but David {H1732} and his men {H582} were in the wilderness {H4057} of Maon {H4584}, in the plain {H6160} on the south {H3225} of Jeshimon {H3452}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They set out and went to Zif before Sha'ul. But David and his men had gone on to the Ma'on Desert, in the 'Aravah south of Yeshimon.

Berean Standard Bible

So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Wilderness of Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon,

American Standard Version

And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah on the south of the desert.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 23:24 starkly illustrates the escalating peril faced by David as King Saul's relentless pursuit reached a critical intensity. Following the treacherous betrayal by the Ziphites, Saul's forces advanced directly towards David's known hiding place. The verse precisely locates David and his loyal men in the desolate "wilderness of Maon," specifically "in the plain on the south of Jeshimon," underscoring their extreme vulnerability and exposed position, mere moments away from what appeared to be inevitable capture, thereby setting the stage for a dramatic and miraculous divine intervention.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within a highly dramatic and suspenseful narrative in 1 Samuel, depicting David's life as a fugitive from King Saul. Having been divinely anointed by Samuel as the future king of Israel, as recorded in [1 Samuel 16:13](/1_samuel/16-13 "1 Samuel 16:13 - David Anointed King"), David became the singular object of Saul's escalating paranoia, jealousy, and murderous intent. Chapter 23 specifically chronicles David's series of narrow escapes, beginning with his deliverance of Keilah and subsequent flight from that city to avoid betrayal, detailed in [1 Samuel 23:1-13](/1_samuel/23-1-13 "1 Samuel 23:1-13 - David Delivers Keilah and Escapes"). This is immediately followed by the Ziphites' initial act of treachery, informing Saul of David's whereabouts in the wilderness of Ziph, a development covered in [1 Samuel 23:14-23](/1_samuel/23-14-23 "1 Samuel 23:14-23 - Ziphites Betray David"). Verse 24 marks the immediate and dire consequence of this betrayal, showing Saul's direct and rapid movement to capture David, thereby intensifying the narrative tension to a breaking point just before God's decisive and miraculous intervention, which unfolds in [1 Samuel 23:27-28](/1_samuel/23-27-28 "1 Samuel 23:27-28 - Divine Intervention at En Gedi").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** David's period of flight and persecution unfolds during a tumultuous era of significant political instability and moral decline within Israel under the reign of King Saul. Saul's kingship was progressively failing, marked by his repeated disobedience to divine commands and subsequent rejection by God, while David was simultaneously gaining recognition and favor as God's chosen successor. The "wilderness" regions of Judah, such as Ziph, Maon, and Jeshimon, were characteristically rugged, barren, and sparsely populated areas. While these natural landscapes offered a degree of concealment for fugitives like David, they also presented immense challenges for survival and rendered David highly vulnerable to betrayal by local inhabitants, as tragically demonstrated by the Ziphites. During this period, tribal loyalties were generally strong, but the overriding imperatives of self-preservation and allegiance to the reigning king could, and often did, supersede these loyalties, leading to acts of treachery. The meticulous geographical descriptions provided in the text are not merely incidental background; rather, they serve to underscore the stark physical reality of David's desperate situation and the alarming precision of Saul's pursuit, thereby emphasizing the truly imminent danger David faced.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching and profound themes woven throughout the book of 1 Samuel. Firstly, it vividly highlights the **relentless pursuit and intense persecution** David endured, underscoring King Saul's irrational, obsessive, and ultimately self-destructive desire to eliminate his divinely appointed rival. Secondly, the verse profoundly emphasizes David's **extreme vulnerability and his absolute dependence on God's sovereign protection**. Despite being God's anointed one, David was humanly exposed, relying on desolate and unforgiving terrain for refuge rather than fortified cities or a powerful army. This precarious existence powerfully showcases the theme of **divine providence**—God's active, faithful, and meticulous hand in preserving His chosen servant even in the face of overwhelming odds and seemingly insurmountable human opposition. The precise geographical details also serve to heighten the **narrative tension and sense of imminent danger**, meticulously setting the stage for God's miraculous and perfectly timed intervention, a recurring theme throughout David's early life that consistently demonstrates God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises despite human weakness, treachery, and opposition, echoing the sentiment found in [Psalm 18:1-3](/psalms/18-1-3 "Psalm 18:1-3 - God My Strength and Deliverer").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Maon (Hebrew, _Mâʻôwn'_):** From the same root as "residence" or "dwelling place," this name is ironically applied to a wilderness area. Maon was a town located in the hill country of Judah, southeast of Hebron, known for its surrounding wilderness. David's presence "in the wilderness of Maon" starkly emphasizes his lack of a secure, permanent dwelling, highlighting his precarious fugitive status. The proximity of the town of Maon to this wilderness area suggests a region that, while desolate, was still within the sphere of human activity and thus vulnerable to discovery, contrasting sharply with its literal meaning of "habitation."
* **Jeshimon (Hebrew, _Yᵉshîymôwn'_):** This Hebrew term literally translates to "a desolation," "the desert," or "the wilderness." It refers to a specific, notoriously barren, and rugged region within the Judean wilderness, frequently associated with harsh, uninhabitable terrain. Its inclusion here ("the plain on the south of Jeshimon") emphasizes the extreme and desolate conditions in which David was living—a place of utter desolation, yet paradoxically, also a place of temporary refuge from his relentless enemies. This stark environment reflects the potential spiritual and emotional desolation David might have experienced during this period of intense persecution, while simultaneously pointing to God's remarkable ability to provide safety even in the most unlikely and unforgiving places.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul":** This opening clause describes the immediate and decisive action taken by the Ziphites following their treacherous betrayal of David's location. "They arose" indicates their prompt and deliberate movement, suggesting a sense of urgency and commitment to their task. "Went to Ziph before Saul" implies that they either met Saul there to provide him with direct guidance, or they returned to Ziph to prepare for Saul's arrival, effectively acting as Saul's scouts or an advance party. This action highlights the Ziphites' active collaboration with Saul, demonstrating their loyalty to the reigning king over any potential solidarity with David, who was also from the tribe of Judah. It underscores the organized, determined, and rapidly closing nature of Saul's pursuit.
* **"but David and his men [were] in the wilderness of Maon":** This phrase introduces a stark and crucial contrast ("but") to the advancing forces of Saul. While Saul was moving with purpose and precision towards a known location, David and his men were situated in a "wilderness," emphasizing their exposed, precarious, and nomadic existence. The "wilderness of Maon" specifically denotes a desolate, uncultivated, and rugged region, offering natural concealment but also presenting harsh living conditions and making sustained habitation challenging. This detail underscores David's profound vulnerability, as he was relying solely on the rugged terrain for protection rather than human fortifications, strategic advantage, or military strength.
* **"in the plain on the south of Jeshimon":** This exceptionally precise geographical detail further narrows David's exact location, thereby emphasizing the extreme and alarming proximity between David and Saul's forces. "The plain" (Hebrew: `ʻărâbâh`, often referring to an arid plain or steppe) identifies a specific type of terrain. "South of Jeshimon" places them in a highly identifiable and confined area within the broader wilderness, indicating that Saul was closing in with alarming accuracy and speed. This detailed mapping of David's precise position significantly heightens the narrative tension, making the subsequent divine intervention all the more dramatic, unexpected, and truly miraculous.

#### Literary Devices
The verse masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its urgent message and heighten the narrative's impact. **Geographical Realism** is paramount, with the precise naming of Ziph, Maon, and Jeshimon grounding the narrative in a tangible, perilous reality. This specificity is not merely descriptive but functions powerfully to heighten the **Tension**, creating an acute sense of imminent danger by illustrating just how alarmingly close Saul was to capturing David. The strategic use of the conjunction "but" introduces a strong **Contrast** between Saul's organized, relentless, and well-resourced pursuit and David's vulnerable, fugitive, and exposed state, emphasizing the vast disparity in their power and resources. Furthermore, the verse acts as significant **Foreshadowing**, meticulously setting the stage for the dramatic and miraculous divine intervention that immediately follows in the narrative, where God orchestrates a Philistine invasion to distract Saul, thereby miraculously saving David.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 23:24 stands as a profound illustration of divine providence actively at work amidst intense human persecution. David, God's chosen and anointed king, is depicted at his most vulnerable, hunted like an animal in the desolate and unforgiving wilderness. Yet, it is precisely in this moment of extreme peril and apparent hopelessness that God's protective hand is most vividly evident. The relentless pursuit by Saul, driven by irrational jealousy and a desperate desire to thwart God's sovereign plan, is ultimately rendered futile by God's perfect and timely intervention. This narrative provides deep reassurance to believers that even when surrounded by powerful enemies and facing seemingly insurmountable odds, God remains utterly faithful to His promises, meticulously orchestrating circumstances to protect His people and fulfill His divine purposes. It powerfully underscores that true security and ultimate deliverance are not found in human strength, strategic advantage, or escape plans, but in absolute and unwavering dependence on the Lord.

* [Psalm 34:7](/psalms/34-7 "Psalm 34:7 - The Angel of the Lord Encamps")
* [Psalm 57:1](/psalms/57-1 "Psalm 57:1 - Refuge in God's Wings")
* [Romans 8:31](/romans/8-31 "Romans 8:31 - God Is For Us")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
David's harrowing experience in the wilderness of Maon resonates deeply with the universal human condition, particularly for those who feel "hunted" or cornered by life's relentless circumstances—whether by persistent opposition, overwhelming anxiety, seasons of profound desolation, or the weight of unjust persecution. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that even when we are at our most exposed and vulnerable, seemingly trapped or cornered by our adversaries, God's watchful eye is intimately upon us. David's reliance on the harsh, unyielding wilderness for refuge points to a profound and counter-intuitive trust in God's unconventional and often unexpected ways of protection and deliverance. It challenges us, as modern believers, to look beyond our immediate circumstances and human-centric solutions, to recognize that God's deliverance frequently comes in unexpected forms and often at the eleventh hour, just when all hope seems lost. In our own "wilderness" seasons, this passage profoundly encourages us to persevere with unwavering faith, knowing that our God is not distant or detached but intimately involved in our struggles, perfectly capable of turning the tide even when all human hope seems to vanish, and that His timing is always perfect and sovereign.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Where in your life do you currently feel "hunted" or in a "wilderness" season, mirroring David's desperate experience?**
* **How does David's complete reliance on God in a moment of extreme vulnerability challenge your own sources of security, control, and self-sufficiency?**
* **What specific, practical steps can you take to cultivate a deeper and more unwavering trust in God's providence when circumstances seem dire or you feel utterly exposed?**

### FAQ

**What happened immediately after this verse, and how was David saved?**

Answer: Immediately following this verse, the narrative tension in 1 Samuel reaches its absolute peak. Saul and his men had successfully closed in on David, having surrounded him on one side of the mountain while David and his men were on the other, making David's capture seem utterly inevitable. However, just as Saul was about to seize David, a messenger arrived with urgent and unexpected news: "Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land" ([1 Samuel 23:27](/1_samuel/23-27 "1 Samuel 23:27 - Philistine Invasion Forces Saul's Retreat")). This sudden and perfectly timed Philistine invasion forced Saul to immediately abandon his relentless pursuit of David and return to defend Israel against this new threat. This dramatic event is famously referred to as "the Rock of Escape" or "Sela Hammahlekoth" ([1 Samuel 23:28](/1_samuel/23-28 "1 Samuel 23:28 - The Rock of Divisions")), highlighting God's miraculous, sovereign, and perfectly timed intervention to protect His anointed servant, demonstrating His ultimate control over human plans and external circumstances.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The relentless pursuit of David in [1 Samuel 23:24](/1_samuel/23-24 "1 Samuel 23:24 - David's Peril in the Wilderness"), his profound vulnerability in the desolate wilderness, and his ultimate divine deliverance powerfully foreshadow the life, suffering, and ultimate triumph of Jesus Christ. Like David, Jesus was God's chosen King, the true Anointed One, yet He too faced relentless persecution from those who sought to thwart God's redemptive plan. From His infancy, when King Herod sought to kill Him, necessitating flight to Egypt, as recorded in [Matthew 2:13-15](/matthew/2-13-15 "Matthew 2:13-15 - Flight to Egypt"), to His public ministry where He was constantly hounded, opposed, and plotted against by religious leaders, Jesus lived a life of profound vulnerability and exposure. He truly entered the "wilderness" of human suffering and desolation, being "despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief," as prophesied in [Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - The Suffering Servant"). Yet, like David, Jesus was ultimately protected by His Heavenly Father's sovereign hand until His appointed time for sacrifice. His ultimate "capture" and crucifixion were not a defeat but a willing, redemptive act, through which He conquered sin, death, and the power of the grave. For believers, Jesus is the ultimate refuge and deliverer in our own wilderness experiences; He understands our trials and vulnerabilities perfectly because He experienced them fully, as emphasized in [Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Our High Priest Understands Our Weaknesses"). His victory on the cross assures us that in Him, we too can overcome the world and its opposition, for He has already triumphed over all spiritual and earthly adversaries, reigning eternally as the true [King of Kings and Lord of Lords](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - Jesus, King of Kings").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 25:2

¶ And [there was] a man in Maon, whose possessions [were] in Carmel; and the man [was] very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.

Joshua 15:55

Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,