Maon
“Habitation or dwelling”
Summary
Maon was a city in the hill country of Judah whose surrounding wilderness served as a hiding place for David when fleeing from Saul, and was also home to the wealthy but churlish Nabal.
☩Location and Identity
Maon was a city in the mountainous region of Judah, listed alongside Carmel and Ziph in Joshua's account of tribal allotments. In the genealogies of Judah, Maon appears as a 'son' of Shammai and 'father' of Beth-zur, indicating he was the founder of that settlement. The site is identified with modern Tell Ma'in, a conical hill about seven miles south of Hebron, with ruins of foundations, a tower or castle, and several cisterns.
☩David in the Wilderness of Maon
The wilderness of Maon was part of the broader desert of Judah, where David and his men hid from Saul's pursuit. On one occasion, when the Ziphites betrayed David's location, Saul pursued him to the wilderness of Maon. David was on one side of a mountain, Saul on the other, with capture imminent—when a messenger arrived calling Saul away to deal with a Philistine raid. The place was called Sela-hammahlekoth, 'the rock of divisions,' commemorating this providential escape.
☩Home of Nabal
Nabal, the wealthy sheep-master whose flocks David's men had protected in the wilderness, conducted his business in this region. Though his actual residence was in Carmel, his possessions and flocks grazed throughout the Maon area. It was here that Abigail, Nabal's wise wife, intercepted David with provisions and averted his wrath after Nabal churlishly refused to assist David's men.
Related Verses5 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Maon," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Maon; Maonites," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Maon," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).