שמואל א, פרק כ״ג, פסוק כ״ד

The hunt for David steadily tightens as local residents take an active role in trying to hand him over to the king. The Ziphites, having already reported David's presence in their region, now take the lead in the search. They set out ahead of the king, acting as an advance scouting party. Their mission is to investigate the area and verify David's exact hiding spot before Saul arrives with his army [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, אברבנאל]. Adding further detail to this sequence of events, [רד״ק] explains that the Ziphites first located the hideout and then returned to Saul to deliver a precise report. Only after receiving this intelligence did the king finally set out, a detail understood from the unfolding events.

While the Ziphites mobilize, David remains constantly on the move to evade his pursuers [אברבנאל]. Rather than staying put in his previous location in the woods, he relocates his camp to the wilderness of Maon [מלבי״ם, שטיינזלץ]. This new refuge is situated in a flat plain [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון], positioned to the right side of the desert area known as the Jeshimon [מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ].