Following the departure of Saul back to Gibeah (1 Samuel 24:22), David decided to remain in the wilderness areas instead of moving to a town. He did this because he did not trust Saul. He did not want to be cornered in a village or town or give Saul an excuse for further bloodshed (see 1 Samuel 22:1–23). Whilst he and his men were living in the Desert of Maon, they were a help to the local shepherds (see 1 Samuel 25:15–16, 1 Samuel 25:21).1
2 And there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel.