What Does 1 Samuel 23:24 Mean in the King James?
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.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
David’s location bears a name, מָעוֹן (Maon; ma’on, “dwelling”), so the pursued are in a place of habitation even within the wilderness.
THE MEANING
A search can move toward you without yet reaching you. The verse keeps the searchers and the sought in separate places: threat has a direction, but it has not yet become contact.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Being pursued does not mean you have already been reached.
THE ROOT
מָעוֹן
ma'on
GROWS FROM
ע־ו־ן
ʿ-w-n
To dwell, inhabit; a dwelling place.
Maon echoes מָעוֹן (ma’on), “dwelling” or “habitation,” bringing the language of inhabiting into a wilderness scene. This is the dwelling sense of ע־ו־ן, distinct from עָוֹן (ʿavon), “crookedness.”
ALSO GROWS
ma'on: Dwelling place, habitation
מָעוֹן
The place-name Maon carries the root’s sense of dwelling into David’s location.
me'onah: Dwelling, abode, den
מְעוֹנָה
This related form can name an abode or den, extending the root’s sense of a place where someone remains.
THE PATTERN
A person can remain in a distinct place while danger searches or advances toward them.
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.For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.THE THREAD
A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.Maon echoes מָעוֹן (ma’on), “dwelling,” the same Hebrew noun rendered “dwelling place” here. The word for David’s wilderness location also names a place of dwelling across generations.
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