1 Samuel 23:24

24 at illi surgentes abierunt in Ziph ante Saul David autem et viri eius erant in deserto Maon in campestribus ad dextram Iesimuth

1 Samuel 23:24 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 23:24

And they arose, and went to Ziph, before Saul
Not before his person, as if he went with them, and they before him leading the way; but they went thither before he went, to prepare things more exactly, and with more certainty, before he came, and in order to return to him again and go with him:

but David and his men [were] in the wilderness at Maon;
for by the time the Ziphites returned home, David had intelligence of their design, and therefore removed from the wilderness of Ziph to the wilderness of Maon; which, though in the same tribe, was a distinct place; (See Gill on Joshua 15:55);

in the plain on the south of Jeshimon;
the same as in ( 1 Samuel 23:19 ) ; only David was now farther to the south of it, and in a plain, whereas before he was on an hill.

1 Samuel 23:24 In-Context

22 abite oro et diligentius praeparate et curiosius agite et considerate locum ubi sit pes eius vel quis viderit eum ibi recogitat enim de me quod callide insidier ei

23 considerate et videte omnia latibula eius in quibus absconditur et revertimini ad me ad rem certam ut vadam vobiscum quod si etiam in terra se abstruserit perscrutabor eum in cunctis milibus Iuda

24 at illi surgentes abierunt in Ziph ante Saul David autem et viri eius erant in deserto Maon in campestribus ad dextram Iesimuth

25 ivit ergo Saul et socii eius ad quaerendum et nuntiatum est David statimque descendit ad petram et versabatur in deserto Maon quod cum audisset Saul persecutus est David in deserto Maon

26 et ibat Saul ad latus montis ex parte una David autem et viri eius erant in latere montis ex parte altera porro David desperabat se posse evadere a facie Saul itaque Saul et viri eius in modum coronae cingebant David et viros eius ut caperent eos