2 Samuel 17:27

“And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, etc.] When he first came thither, (<101724>2 Samuel 17:24); that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon: who was either the son, or rather the brother of Hanun king of the Ammonites, that used David’s ambassadors in so shameful a manner, whom David overcame and deposed, and set up this brother in his room; who had showed his dislike of his brother’s conduct, and now makes a grateful return to David for his favours; though some say this was Hanun himself, as Jarchi, now become a proselyte, which is not so likely; others take this man to be an Israelite that continued in Rabbah, the metropolis of the Ammonites, after it…”

“when David was come to Mahanaim--The necessities of the king and his followers were hospitably ministered to by three chiefs, whose generous loyalty is recorded with honor in the sacred narrative. Shobi--must have been a brother of Hanun. Disapproving, probably, of that young king's outrage upon the Israelite ambassadors, he had been made governor of Ammon by David on the conquest of that country. Machir--(See Sa2 9:4). Supposed by some to have been a brother of Bath-sheba, and Barzillai--a wealthy old grandee, whose great age and infirmities made his loyal devotion to the distressed monarch peculiarly affecting. The supplies they brought, which (besides beds for the weary) consisted of the…”

“Shobi’s father may have been the king of the Ammonites, and Shobi appointed by David as tributary king or governor of Ammon after he took Rabbah 2 Samuel 12:29. On the other hand, Nahash may have been a common name among the Ammonites, and the Nahash of 2 Samuel 17:25 may have been of that nation. On Machir, see the marginal reference. Barzillai was ancestor, through a daughter, to a family of priests, who were called after him “sons of Barzillai,” and who returned from captivity with Zerubbabel, but were not allowed to officiate as priests, or eat of the holy things, through defect of a proper register Ezra 2:61-63. It is likely that being wealthy they had neglected their priestly…”

“Shobi - Who, as it may seem, disliked and disowned that barbarous action to the ambassadors; and therefore, when the rest were destroyed, was left king or governor of the residue of the Ammonites. Machir - See above Sa2 9:4. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 17:29”

“17:27 Shobi was probably the brother of Hanun, who had humiliated David’s messengers after the death of Nahash (ch 10; see study note on 10:1-5). • Makir was Mephibosheth’s host before David summoned him (9:4-5). • Barzillai of Gilead was probably not the same as Barzillai from Meholah (21:8).”

“the son of Nahash: Sa2 10:1, Sa2 10:2, Sa2 12:29, Sa2 12:30; Sa1 11:1 Machir: Sa2 9:4 Barzillai: Sa2 19:31, Sa2 19:32; Kg1 2:7; Ezr 2:61 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 17:28”

“When David came to Mahanaim, some of the wealthier citizens of the land to the east of the Jordan supplied the men who were with him with provisions. This is mentioned as the first sign that the people had not all fallen away from David, but that some of the more distinguished men were still firm in their adherence. Shobi, the son of Nahash or Rabbah, the capital of the Ammonites (see Sa2 11:1), was possibly a son of Nahash the deceased king of the Ammonites, and brother of Hanun, who was defeated by David ( Sa2 10:1-2), and one of those to whom David had shown favour and kindness when Rabbah was taken. At the same time, it is also quite possible that Shobi may have been an Israelite, who…”