1Sa 23:24 | KD | STEP | With this answer the Ziphites arose and “ went to Ziph before Saul ” (who would speedily follow with his warriors); but David had gone farther in the meantime, and was with his men “ in the desert of Maon, in the steppe to the south of the wilderness .” Maon , now Maïn , is about three hours and three-quarters S.S.E. of Hebron (see at ), and therefore only two hours from Ziph, from which it is visible. “The table-land appears to terminate here; nevertheless the principal ridge of the southern mountains runs for a considerable distance towards the south-west, whereas towards the south-east the land falls off more and more into a lower table-land.” This is the Arabah or steppe on the right of the wilderness (v. de Velde, ii. pp. 107-8).

‏ 1 Samuel 23:24

With this answer the Ziphites arose and “went to Ziph before Saul” (who would speedily follow with his warriors); but David had gone farther in the meantime, and was with his men “in the desert of Maon, in the steppe to the south of the wilderness.” Maon, now Maïn, is about three hours and three-quarters S.S.E. of Hebron (see at Jos 15:55), and therefore only two hours from Ziph, from which it is visible. “The table-land appears to terminate here; nevertheless the principal ridge of the southern mountains runs for a considerable distance towards the south-west, whereas towards the south-east the land falls off more and more into a lower table-land.” This is the Arabah or steppe on the right of the wilderness (v. de Velde, ii. pp. 107-8).