2 Samuel 9:5

2Sa 9:5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

Ver. 5. Then king David sent, and fetched him.] Thus God oft stirreth up the hearts of his able servants to do good to the orphans of poorer saints, for their sakes; as were easy to instance. Peter Martyr’s only daughter, through the riot and prodigality of her debauched husband, being brought to extreme poverty, was well maintained by the Senate of Zuric, for her reverend father’s sake. Personal goodness is profitable to posterity.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

9:5 As Saul had once sent for David (1 Sam 16:19), now David sent for Mephibosheth. However, Saul sent for someone to minister to him, whereas David sent for someone to whom he could minister.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Who was also called Eliam the father of Bathsheba David’s wife.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

5. fet] This archaic form for fetched appears in several passages in the original edition of the E. V. (1611). It is found in Shakespeare:

“On, on, you noblest English,

Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof!”

Henry V., A. III. S. I. 18, 19.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Then King David sent,.... Messengers; it may be Ziba, none being more proper than he that knew him, and where he was:

and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar; they demanded him in the king's name, and being delivered to them, they brought him from thence to Jerusalem.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Vers. 5-13. (THE KING"S PALACE.)

Mephibosheth before the king.

We have here a picture of

I EXTRAORDINARY VICISSITUDES IS LIFE. A prince by birth, deprived of his father, crippled by a heedless footstep, carried into exile and poverty, recently a helpless dependent in a remote district, is conducted into the presence of one who was once a shepherd boy, afterwards a wandering outlaw, and now the greatest monarch on earth! Such changes:

1. May be largely, though not entirely, traced to moral causes, personalcharacter, hereditary relationships.

2. Are wrought by Divine providence (1Sa_2:7, 1Sa_2:8; Psa_113:7, Psa_113:8)

3. Are designed for human welfare; being not only corrective, but alsotentative and disciplinary (Psa_55:19; Job_23:10; Heb_12:6)

4. And should be regarded in an appropriate spirit. (Jam_1:9, Jam_1:10)

II THE DEPRESSING INFLUENCE OF MISFORTUNE. "He fell on his face, and did reverence" (ver. 6); "And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?" (ver. 8). His physical infirmity, combined with long continued dependence, made him not merely humble, but timid, anxious, abject, and self-depreciatory. Hence his language (due in part to Oriental exaggeration) is excusable, though scarcely to be commended (Kitto, "Daily Bible Illus."). The natural tendency of heavy affliction to enfeeble and crush the spirit is effectually overcome only by the aid of Divine grace.

III AN ADMIRABLE EXHIBITION OF KINDNESS; spontaneous, faithful, considerate, magnanimous, practical, enduring, Divine.

1. In gracious and encouraging words. "Mephibosheth!" (ver. 6). "Fear not!" etc. (ver. 7). To David himself, in a time of dejection, Jonathan had said," Fear not!"; (1Sa_23:17) and how often has the Lord spoken the same comforting word to his servants (Gen_15:1; Rev_1:17)

1. In becoming and beneficent acts; fulfilling what had been promised (vers. 9-11), restoring an alienated inheritance, and making a sure, permanent, and abundant provision (ver. 12).

2. In honoured, intimate, and abiding friendship. thy master"s son, shall eat bread alway at my table" (vers. 10, 11, 13). Such kindness, like sunshine after rain, and as a visit of "the angel of God", (2Sa_19:27, 2Sa_19:28) dispersed his fear, alleviated his misfortune, and filled him with grateful devotion; whilst his presence at the royal table would daily remind the king of his deceased friend, and incite him to renewed generosity.

IV THE IRREMEDIABLE DEFECTS OF THE MOST FAVOURED EARTHLY CONDITION. "And he was lame on both his feet" (ver. 13). His deformity was incurable; his infirmity became an occasion of complaint and slander; (2Sa_16:2-4) and his dejection and distress returned "as the clouds after the rain". (2Sa_19:24-30) The king himself often longed to flee away and be at rest. (Psa_55:6) And it is vain to expect perfection in character or condition except in the heavenly mansions.

There is a spot in every flower, A sigh in every gale, A shadow in the brightest hour, Thorns in the smoothest vale.

To smile and weep, and weep and smile, To man alternate given; To cling to earth permitted while We learn to long for heaven.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Machir - This Machir appears to have been a generous man, who entertained Mephibosheth out of mere compassion, not of disaffection to David: for afterwards we find him kind to David himself, when he fled from Absalom. David now little thought, that the time would come, when he himself should need his assistance. Let us be forward to give, because we know not what we ourselves may sometime want.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

King David sent

It is understood that David sent messengers. (See: Ellipsis)

Mephibosheth

See how you translated this in 2 Samuel 4:4.

came to David

The word "came" can be translated as "went." (See: Go and Come)

I am your servant

Mephibosheth refers to himself as "your servant" to show great honor to David.

translationWords

send

bow

face

honor

servant

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.