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2 Samuel 17:27-29

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

27. And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, 28. Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched [corn], and beans, and lentiles, and parched [pulse], 29. And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that [were] with him, to eat: for they said, The people [is] hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

2 Samuel 17:27-29 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on 2 Samuel 17:27

Theological / Devotional

Shobi the son of Nahash. There is a possibility that “Nahash of Rabbah” was the king of Ammon who was defeated by Saul at Jabesh-gilead (1 Sam. 11:1-11; 1 Sam. 12:12), and who befriended David during his exile (2 Sam. 10:2). However, the latter may have been the son of the former. If a king of Ammon is indicated, Shobi may have been left as governor over the country after David’s overthrow of the Ammonites for the insult against the Israelite ambassadors (2 Sam. 10:1-5 ; 12:29-31). On the other hand, Shobi may have been simply the son of some Israelite by the name of Nahash who lived in the Ammonite city of Rabbah, or of an Ammonite commoner.

Machir the son of Ammiel. This was the man who had been the guardian of Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan (see on ch. 9:4). As Machir once had shown kindness to the house of Saul, so now he showed kindness to David. David was now reaping a reward for his kindness to a descendant of the house of Saul.

Barzillai. See ch. 19:31-40. He was the ancestor, through a daughter, of a family of priests who were called the children of Barzillai (Ezra 2:61-63).

By SdaBc