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.

1 SAMUEL 23:24KJV
Know the Bible

1 Samuel 23:24 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 23:24 mean?

1 Samuel 23:24 describes how Saul’s followers set out for the town of Ziph, ahead of Saul, while David and his men were hiding in the wilderness area near Maon, south of a place called Jeshimon. The verse sets the stage for Saul’s pursuit of David by showing the separate locations of the two groups.

In this part of the story, Saul is trying to capture David, who is fleeing for his life. The people loyal to Saul are actively searching for David, and the verse gives specific details about the geography: Ziph, Maon, and Jeshimon are all in the southern part of ancient Judah, a rugged and remote region. This helps the reader picture the tension and danger as Saul closes in on David.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 23:24

  • מִדְבַּר (midbar, H4057) — "wilderness": This word often refers to a wild, uninhabited area, not just a desert but a place of isolation and danger. Here, it emphasizes how David was hiding in a remote and difficult-to-reach place.
  • יָמִין (yamin, H3225) — "south": This word literally means "right hand" but is commonly used for "south" in Hebrew geography, since people oriented themselves facing east. It clarifies that David was in the southern part of the region, away from settled areas.
  • יְשִׁימוֹן (Yeshimon, H3452) — "Jeshimon": This name means "desolation" or "wasteland," highlighting the harshness of the area where David was hiding.

Why 1 Samuel 23:24 matters

  • The verse shows how detailed the pursuit of David was, with Saul’s followers tracking him to specific, remote locations, which adds to the suspense of the story.
  • The mention of the wilderness and desolate places underlines how desperate David’s situation was—he was forced to hide in the harshest environments to escape Saul.
  • This verse connects to the larger narrative of David’s flight from Saul, helping the reader understand the geography and the real danger David faced, which sets up the events that follow in the chapter.

Where else these words appear

“Maon” Hebrew H4584 · used in 6 verses

  • Joshua 15:55 Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,
  • Judges 10:12 The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.
  • 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.

“Ziph” Hebrew H2128 · used in 9 verses

  • Joshua 15:24 Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,
  • 1 Samuel 23:14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
  • 1 Chronicles 2:42 Now the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were, Mesha his firstborn, which was the father of Ziph; and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.

“Jeshimon” Hebrew H3452 · used in 13 verses

  • Numbers 21:20 And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon.
  • 1 Samuel 26:1 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
  • Psalms 106:14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

“plain” Hebrew H6160 · used in 57 verses

  • Numbers 22:1 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
  • Joshua 4:13 About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
  • Psalms 68:4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.