2 Samuel 17:27

27 David came to Mahanaim. Shobi, the son of Nahash, met him there. Shobi was from Rabbah in the land of Ammon. Makir, the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, met him there too. So did Barzillai from Rogelim in the land of Gilead.

2 Samuel 17:27 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 17:27

And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim
When he first came thither, ( 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 was taken by David:

and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar;
the same that brought up Mephibosheth, from whom David received him and took him off of his hands, for which now he requited him, see ( 2 Samuel 9:5 ) ;

and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim;
a place that lay under the hills of Gilead ^F25; it had its name from the "fullers" who dwelt here for the convenience of fountains of water to wash their clothes in.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F25 Fuller's Pisgah-View, B. 2. c. 3. sect. 10. p. 94.

2 Samuel 17:27 In-Context

25 Absalom had made Amasa commander of the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Jether. Jether belonged to the family line of Ishmael. He had gotten married to Abigail. She was the daughter of Nahash and the sister of Zeruiah. Zeruiah was the mother of Joab.

26 Absalom and the people of Israel camped in the land of Gilead.

27 David came to Mahanaim. Shobi, the son of Nahash, met him there. Shobi was from Rabbah in the land of Ammon. Makir, the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, met him there too. So did Barzillai from Rogelim in the land of Gilead.

28 They brought beds, bowls and clay pots. They brought wheat, barley, flour, and grain that had been cooked. They brought beans and lentils.

29 They brought honey, butter, sheep and cheese that was made from cows' milk. They brought all of that food for David and his people to eat. They said, "These people have become hungry. They've become tired and thirsty in the desert."