2 Samuel 9:4

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 9:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.
2 Samuel 9:4 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the king said unto him, where is he? etc.] In what part of the land, city, or town, does he dwell? and Ziba said unto the king, behold, he [is] in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel; a descendant of Machir, the son of Manasseh, to whom the land of Gilead was given, which lay on the other side Jordan: in Lodebar; a place in that country, perhaps the same with Debir in (<061326>Joshua 13:26). Here it may be his mother’s relations lived, and here he might dwell in obscurity, and lie hid from the knowledge of David; who, it might be feared by his friends, would have dispatched him, had he known where he was. Some take it to be an appellative, and render it, as Abarbinel observes,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“David reaped the fruit of his kindness to Mephibosheth, for, when he fled from Absalom, Machir, the son of Ammiel, was one of those who were most liberal in providing him and his army with necessaries (marginal reference). According to 1 Chronicles 3:5, Ammiel (called inversely Eliam, 2 Samuel 11:3) was the father of Bath-sheba. If this be the same Ammiel, Machir would be Bath-sheba’s brother. However, the name is not a very uncommon one (Num 13:12; 1 Chronicles 26:5, etc.). Lo-debar - Evidently on the east of Jordan River, and in the neighborhood of Ish-bosheth’s capital, Mahanaim 2 Samuel 17:27, but not identified by any modern traveler. Thought by some, not improbably, to be the same as…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“9:4 Lo-debar was a small town in northern Transjordan (the area east of the Jordan), close to Mahanaim, the capital city of Mephibosheth’s late uncle, Ishbosheth. The town was also near Jabesh-gilead, where Saul first made a name for himself (1 Sam 11:1-13). • Makir son of Ammiel, Mephibosheth’s host, later supported David during Absalom’s revolt (2 Sam 17:27).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Machir: Sa2 17:27-29 Lodebar: This place appears to have been situated beyond Jordan; and was probably, as Reland supposes, the same as Debir or Lidbir, Jos 13:26. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 9:6”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification