Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David. New Living Translation When David heard that Saul and his men were searching for him, he went even farther into the wilderness to the great rock, and he remained there in the wilderness of Maon. But Saul kept after him in the wilderness. English Standard Version And Saul and his men went to seek him. And David was told, so he went down to the rock and lived in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. Berean Standard Bible and Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there. Berean Literal Bible And Saul and his men went to seek him, and they declared to David. And he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And Saul heard and pursued after David in the Wilderness of Maon. King James Bible Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. New King James Version When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David. Therefore he went down to the rock, and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued David in the Wilderness of Maon. New American Standard Bible When Saul and his men went to seek him, they informed David, and he came down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard about it, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon. NASB 1995 When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David, and he came down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard it, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon. NASB 1977 When Saul and his men went to seek him, they told David, and he came down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard it, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon. Legacy Standard Bible So Saul and his men went to seek him, and they told David, and he came down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And Saul heard it and pursued David in the wilderness of Maon. Amplified Bible Then Saul and his men went to search for him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed [there] in the Wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard it, he pursued David in the Wilderness of Maon. Berean Annotated Bible and Saul (desired) and his men went to seek him. When David (beloved) was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon (habitation). And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there. Christian Standard Bible and Saul and his men went to look for him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. Saul heard of this and pursued David there. Holman Christian Standard Bible and Saul and his men went to look for him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. Saul heard of this and pursued David there. American Standard Version And Saul and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. Contemporary English Version Saul and his army set out to find David. But David heard that Saul was coming, and he went to a place called The Rock, one of his hideouts in Maon Desert. Saul found out where David was and started closing in on him. English Revised Version And Saul and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. GOD'S WORD® Translation When Saul and his men came to look for him, David was told the news. So he went to his mountain stronghold in the desert of Maon. Saul heard about it and pursued David into the desert of Maon. Good News Translation Saul and his men set out to look for David, but he heard about it and went to a rocky hill in the wilderness of Maon and stayed there. When Saul heard about this, he went after David. International Standard Version When Saul and his men went to search for David, some people told David, and he went down to the Rock of Escape and remained in the wilderness of Maon. Saul heard this and he pursued David into the wilderness of Maon. NET Bible Saul and his men went to look for him. But David was informed and went down to the rock and stayed in the desert of Maon. When Saul heard about it, he pursued David in the desert of Maon. New Heart English Bible Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told, he went down to the rock, and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard that, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon. Webster's Bible Translation Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleand Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there. World English Bible Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told, he went down to the rock, and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard that, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Saul and his men go to seek, and they declare [it] to David, and he goes down the rock, and abides in the wilderness of Maon; and Saul hears, and pursues after David [to] the wilderness of Maon. Berean Literal Bible And Saul and his men went to seek him, and they declared to David. And he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And Saul heard and pursued after David in the Wilderness of Maon. Young's Literal Translation And Saul and his men go to seek, and they declare to David, and he goeth down the rock, and abideth in the wilderness of Maon; and Saul heareth, and pursueth after David to the wilderness of Maon. Smith's Literal Translation And Saul will go, and his men, to seek: and they will announce to David, and he will go down to the rock and dwell in the desert of the refuge. And Saul will hear and he will pursue after David in the desert of Maon. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThen Saul and his men went to seek him: and it was told David, and forthwith he went down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon: and when Saul had heard of it he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. Catholic Public Domain Version Then Saul and his allies went to seek him. And this was reported to David. And immediately, he descended to the rock, and he moved about in the desert of Maon. And when Saul had heard of it, he pursued David in the desert of Maon. New American Bible When Saul and his men came looking for him, David got word of it and went down to the gorge in the wilderness below Maon. Saul heard of this and pursued David into the wilderness below Maon. New Revised Standard Version Saul and his men went to search for him. When David was told, he went down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard that, he pursued David into the wilderness of Maon. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Saul and his men went to seek David. And they told David: therefore he came down to Selah and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued David in the wilderness of Maon. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Shaul and his Servants went on to seek for David, and they showed David, and he came down by himself to Sela, and he dwelt in the wilderness of Muun, and Shaul heard and pursued after David to the wilderness of Muun OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Saul and his men went to seek him. And they told David; wherefore he came down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. Brenton Septuagint Translation And Saul and his men went to seek him: and they brought word to David, and he went down to the rock that was in the wilderness of Maon: and Saul heard, and followed after David to the wilderness of Maon. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Saul Pursues David…24So 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, 25and Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there. 26Saul was proceeding along one side of the mountain, and David and his men along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.… Cross References Saul and his men went to seek him. 1 Samuel 24:2 So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 1 Samuel 26:2 So Saul, accompanied by three thousand chosen men of Israel, went down to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there. Psalm 54:3 For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life—men with no regard for God. Selah When David was told about it, 1 Samuel 19:2 so he warned David, saying, “My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning; find a secret place and hide there. 1 Samuel 19:11-12 Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” / So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped. he went down to the rock 2 Samuel 22:3 My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation. My stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior, You save me from violence. Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 62:2 He alone is my rock and my salvation. He is my fortress; I will never be shaken. and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. 1 Samuel 25:1 When Samuel died, all Israel gathered to mourn for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David set out and went down to the Wilderness of Paran. 1 Samuel 25:2 Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. He was a very wealthy man with a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. Joshua 15:55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, And when Saul heard of this, 1 Samuel 24:1 After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.” 1 Samuel 26:1 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?” he pursued David there. 1 Samuel 26:18 And he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand? 1 Samuel 26:20 So do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to look for a flea, like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.” Psalm 7:1 A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite. O LORD my God, I take refuge in You; save me and deliver me from all my pursuers, Treasury of Scripture Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David; why he came down into a rock, and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. into a rock. 1 Samuel 23:28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth. Judges 15:8 And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam. Jump to Previous Abode David Desert Heard Hearing Maon Ma'on Pursued Pursuit Rock Saul Search Seek Waste Wherefore Wilderness WordJump to Next Abode David Desert Heard Hearing Maon Ma'on Pursued Pursuit Rock Saul Search Seek Waste Wherefore Wilderness Word1 Samuel 23 1. David, enquiring of the Lord by Abiathar, rescues Keilah7. God showing him the coming of Saul, and the treachery of the Keilites, 13. he escapes from Keilah 14. In Ziph Jonathan comes and comforts him 19. The Ziphites discover him to Saul 25. At Maon he is rescued from Saul by the invasion of the Philistines 29. He dwells at En Gedi and Saul and his men went to seek him. This phrase highlights Saul's relentless pursuit of David, who was anointed by Samuel to be the next king of Israel. Saul's jealousy and fear of losing his throne drove him to seek David's life. This pursuit is a recurring theme in 1 Samuel, illustrating the conflict between Saul's declining kingship and David's rise. Saul's actions can be seen as a warning against allowing jealousy and fear to dictate one's actions, as they lead to destructive behavior. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there. Persons / Places / Events 1. SaulThe first king of Israel, who is pursuing David out of jealousy and fear of losing his throne. 2. David The anointed future king of Israel, who is fleeing from Saul to preserve his life. 3. The Rock A specific location in the wilderness of Maon where David sought refuge. 4. Wilderness of Maon A desolate area in Judah where David and his men hid from Saul. 5. Pursuit The ongoing chase by Saul to capture and kill David, highlighting the tension between the two. Teaching Points Trust in God's ProtectionDavid's life exemplifies reliance on God's protection even when pursued by powerful enemies. Believers can find comfort in God's sovereignty over their circumstances. God's Timing David's patience in waiting for God's timing to ascend to the throne teaches us the importance of waiting on God's perfect timing in our own lives. Faith in Adversity Despite being hunted, David's faith did not waver. This encourages believers to maintain their faith and integrity during trials. The Role of Community David's men and the people who informed him of Saul's movements played crucial roles. This highlights the importance of a supportive community in times of trouble. Respect for Authority David's respect for Saul as the Lord's anointed, despite Saul's intentions, teaches us to respect authority while trusting God to handle injustices. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 23:25?2. How does David's response in 1 Samuel 23:25 demonstrate reliance on God's guidance? 3. What can we learn about God's protection from David's escape in this passage? 4. How does 1 Samuel 23:25 connect with Psalm 18:2 about God's deliverance? 5. How can we apply David's trust in God to our daily challenges today? 6. What role does seeking God's will play in decision-making, as seen in David's actions? 7. How does 1 Samuel 23:25 demonstrate God's guidance in David's life? 8. What historical evidence supports the events described in 1 Samuel 23:25? 9. How does 1 Samuel 23:25 reflect the theme of divine protection? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 23? 11. 1 Samuel 25:39-42 - How do we reconcile David marrying Abigail immediately after Nabal's death with biblical laws and cultural norms on mourning and remarriage? 12. Does Saul's abrupt departure to confront the Philistines (1 Samuel 23:27-28) accurately reflect known Philistine incursions, or is it merely a narrative device? 13. Why does 2 Kings 23:25 suggest Josiah surpassed even David in devotion, seemingly contradicting other texts that exalt David's faithfulness? 14. How did David consult the ephod for instant divine guidance in 1 Samuel 23:9-12 when similar direct communication is uncommon elsewhere in the Old Testament? What Does 1 Samuel 23:25 Mean And Saul and his men went to seek him• Saul’s obsession with eliminating David shows no sign of cooling off (1 Samuel 18:10–11; 19:1). His pursuit is methodical—he marshals “his men,” the regular army of Israel, for a personal vendetta (24:2; 26:2). • The verse underscores the real danger David faces; this isn’t a single rogue soldier but the king and his forces. Compare 1 Samuel 24:14 where David later asks, “Whom have you come out to pursue? A dead dog? A flea?”—highlighting Saul’s disproportionate response. • Saul’s determination reminds us that human authority, when separated from God’s guidance, easily slides into persecution of the righteous (Psalm 37:12). When David was told about it • David benefits from loyal informants—likely the people of Ziph mentioned in 23:19—but he has the discernment to act on that intelligence (23:1–12). • Even with God’s promises of kingship (16:13), David doesn’t presume on divine protection; he responsibly gathers information and responds. Jesus later instructs a similar blend of wisdom and innocence in Matthew 10:16. • Notice that David neither panics nor retaliates against Saul. He waits on the LORD (Psalm 27:14), illustrating faith expressed through thoughtful action. He went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon • “The rock” likely refers to a large outcropping that offers both concealment and a strategic viewpoint. David repeatedly uses natural strongholds—Adullam (22:1), Engedi (24:1)—while acknowledging that “The LORD is my rock, my fortress” (Psalm 18:2). • The Wilderness of Maon lies south of Hebron, a barren, maze-like terrain. In human terms it is inhospitable; in spiritual terms it becomes a classroom where David learns reliance on God alone (Psalm 63, composed “in the wilderness of Judah”). • Remaining there shows a measured stance: he doesn’t flee Israel altogether, honoring Saul’s kingship for now (24:6), yet he avoids needless confrontation—a model of living peaceably as far as it depends on us (Romans 12:18). And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there • Saul adapts quickly, displaying the relentless nature of sin-driven jealousy (James 3:14–16). Every time David gains distance, Saul closes it—an echo of 1 Samuel 26:20 where Saul likens the chase to hunting partridge in the mountains. • God allows the tension to escalate, setting the stage for dramatic deliverance in 23:26–28 when a Philistine raid forces Saul to retreat. The episode reminds us that the LORD “frustrates the plans of the peoples” (Psalm 33:10) while protecting His anointed. • For believers, Saul’s pursuit pictures the adversary’s unending harassment, yet David’s survival foreshadows the truth declared in 2 Thessalonians 3:3: “The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.” summary 1 Samuel 23:25 captures a tense moment in the ongoing cat-and-mouse struggle between Saul and David. Saul’s aggressive search, David’s informed response, the strategic retreat to a rocky refuge, and Saul’s renewed chase all highlight the interplay of human responsibility and divine sovereignty. David acts wisely and courageously, yet ultimately trusts the LORD to be his true stronghold. The verse teaches that God’s promises do not negate prudent action; rather, they empower us to move forward with confidence, knowing He will guard His purposes and His people. Verses 25, 26. - He came down into a rock. Hebrew, sela', a cliff or precipice. In the next verse it is described as a mountain, on one side of which was David and his men, in full view of Saul and his army on the other. But as Saul's forces were much more numerous, they were preparing to separate, and so enclose David, while he made haste. The word expresses anxiety and fear, and may be translated, "And David sought anxiously to go from before the face of Saul." Conder's description of the spot ('Tent Work,' 2:91) sets the whole scene most vividly before us. It is as follows: - "Between the ridge of El Kolah (the ancient hill of Hachilah) and the neighbourhood of Maon there is a great gorge called 'the Valley of Rocks,' a narrow but deep chasm, impassable except by a detour of many miles, so that Saul might have stood within sight of David, yet quite unable to overtake his enemy; and to this "cliff of division" the name Malaky now applies, a word closely approaching the Hebrew Mahlekoth. The neighbourhood is seamed with many torrent beds, but there is no other place near Maon where cliffs such as are to be inferred from the word sela' can be found. It seems to me pretty safe, therefore, to look on this gorge as the scene of the wonderful escape of David, due to a sudden Philistine invasion, which terminated the history of his hair-breadth escapes in the south country." This cliff in ver. 28 is called Sela-Hammahlekoth, "the cliff of divisions," or "of separations," ham representing the Hebrew article. Many other derivations have been suggested, but the above, which alone agrees with the ordinary meaning of the Hebrew verb, is proved to be right by Mr. Conder's researches. They enable us also to correct some small errors. Thus David did not come down into a rock, but "to the cliff," the sela or precipitous gorge described above. Nor did he "descend the rock" (Erdmann) "in order to conceal himself in the low land, or in the caves at its base," but he went to it as being an impassable barrier between him and his pursuers. But "he hasted anxiously to get away" (ver. 26), because Saul would divide his army into two parts, and so David would only have the advantage of the few miles of detour which Saul must make. But for the news of the Philistine invasion his final escape would have been almost hopeless. The ordinary notion that David and his men were concealed from the sight of Saul by an intervening mountain is disproved, not only by no such mountain existing, but also by the clause, "Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men" (ver. 28). They had them in sight, and were forming in two divisions, so as to pass the gorge at the two ends and close upon the flanks of David's small band of followers. Verse 29 belongs to the next chapter.
Hebrew and Saulשָׁא֣וּל (šā·’ūl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites and his men וַאֲנָשָׁיו֮ (wa·’ă·nā·šāw) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person went וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ (way·yê·leḵ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk to seek [him]. לְבַקֵּשׁ֒ (lə·ḇaq·qêš) Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after When David לְדָוִ֔ד (lə·ḏā·wiḏ) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse was told about it, וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ (way·yag·gi·ḏū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous he went down וַיֵּ֣רֶד (way·yê·reḏ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend to the rock הַסֶּ֔לַע (has·se·la‘) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5553: A craggy rock and stayed וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב (way·yê·šeḇ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry in the Wilderness בְּמִדְבַּ֣ר (bə·miḏ·bar) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech of Maon. מָע֑וֹן (mā·‘ō·wn) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 4584: Maon -- 'habitation', a place in Judah, also a man of Judah, also an enemy of Israel And when Saul שָׁא֔וּל (šā·’ūl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites heard of this, וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע (way·yiš·ma‘) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently he pursued וַיִּרְדֹּ֥ף (way·yir·dōp̄) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7291: To pursue, chase, persecute David דָוִ֖ד (ḏā·wiḏ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse there. מִדְבַּ֥ר (miḏ·bar) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech Links 1 Samuel 23:25 NIV1 Samuel 23:25 NLT 1 Samuel 23:25 ESV 1 Samuel 23:25 NASB 1 Samuel 23:25 KJV 1 Samuel 23:25 BibleApps.com 1 Samuel 23:25 Biblia Paralela 1 Samuel 23:25 Chinese Bible 1 Samuel 23:25 French Bible 1 Samuel 23:25 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Samuel 23:25 Saul and his men went to seek (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) |
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