2 Samuel 9:5

KJV

Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then king {H4428} David {H1732} sent {H7971}, and fetched {H3947} him out of the house {H1004} of Machir {H4353}, the son {H1121} of Ammiel {H5988}, from Lodebar {H3810}.

Complete Jewish Bible

King David sent and took him from the house of Makhir the son of 'Ammi'el in Lo-D'var.

Berean Standard Bible

So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.

American Standard Version

Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Samuel 9:5 records King David's decisive action to retrieve Mephibosheth, the son of his covenant friend Jonathan and grandson of King Saul, from his obscure dwelling in Lodebar. This verse marks the physical culmination of David's earlier inquiry to show kindness to the house of Saul, initiating Mephibosheth's journey from a place of forgotten desolation to a position of honor and provision within the royal court.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment in the narrative of David's kindness to Mephibosheth, which begins in [2 Samuel 9:1](/2_samuel/9-1 "2 Samuel 9:1 - David's Inquiry"). Having inquired if anyone from Saul's house remained to whom he could show kindness for Jonathan's sake, David is informed by Ziba, Saul's former servant, about Mephibosheth's existence and his residence in Lodebar ([2 Samuel 9:2-4](/2_samuel/9-2 "2 Samuel 9:2-4 - Ziba Reveals Mephibosheth")). Verse 5 then describes the immediate execution of David's benevolent intent, dispatching messengers to bring Mephibosheth to Jerusalem. This act sets the stage for Mephibosheth's subsequent reception at the king's table, as detailed in [2 Samuel 9:6-8](/2_samuel/9-6 "2 Samuel 9:6-8 - Mephibosheth Before David"), fulfilling David's oath to Jonathan.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, it was common practice for a new king to eliminate all potential rivals from the previous dynasty to secure his throne. Saul's lineage, though diminished, still posed a theoretical threat. David's actions, therefore, stand in stark contrast to this prevailing custom. Instead of eradication, he extends radical grace and restoration, driven by his covenant with Jonathan. Mephibosheth's lameness, likely from an accident during his childhood flight ([2 Samuel 4:4](/2_samuel/4-4 "2 Samuel 4:4 - Mephibosheth's Injury")), further marginalized him in a society that often viewed physical infirmity as a sign of divine displeasure or weakness. His hiding in Lodebar, a remote and desolate place, underscores his vulnerability and the perceived danger he faced as a surviving member of the former royal family.

* **Key Themes:** David's actions in this chapter, culminating in the fetching of Mephibosheth, powerfully illustrate several key themes. Firstly, **Covenant Faithfulness** is paramount, as David honors the solemn oath he made to Jonathan to show kindness to his descendants ([1 Samuel 20:14-17](/1_samuel/20-14 "1 Samuel 20:14-17 - Jonathan and David's Covenant")). This demonstrates the enduring nature of loyalty and commitment. Secondly, **Grace and Restoration** are vividly portrayed. Mephibosheth, a forgotten, lame, and impoverished individual, is brought from obscurity to a place of honor at the king's table, receiving undeserved favor. This act of grace transforms his status entirely, from a potential threat to a permanent guest. Thirdly, the narrative subtly points to **Divine Providence and God's Initiative**. Just as David actively seeks out Mephibosheth, this story serves as an earthly echo of God's sovereign initiative in seeking out and restoring those who are lost, broken, or marginalized, inviting them into His kingdom and presence, a theme echoed in the New Testament's emphasis on God's redemptive plan for humanity, as seen in [Ephesians 2:4-5](/ephesians/2-4 "Ephesians 2:4-5 - God's Rich Mercy").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sent (Hebrew, _shalach'_):** This verb signifies dispatching, sending forth, or extending. Its use here emphasizes David's deliberate and active initiative. He doesn't wait for Mephibosheth to come to him; rather, he proactively sends his representatives, demonstrating his earnest desire and commitment to fulfill his promise to Jonathan. This is not a passive invitation but an authoritative summons.
* **Fetched (Hebrew, _laqach'_):** Meaning to take, seize, or bring, this word reinforces the active nature of David's command. It suggests a decisive act of retrieval, pulling Mephibosheth out of his current circumstances. Combined with "sent," it highlights the king's power and determination to effect this change in Mephibosheth's life, bringing him from one state to another.
* **Lodebar (Hebrew, לֹא דְבָר, _Lo Debar'_):** This place name is highly symbolic. It literally means "no pasture," "no word," or "no thing." It suggests a desolate, barren, forgotten, or even non-existent place. Mephibosheth's residence in such a location underscores his impoverished, neglected, and isolated condition, a stark contrast to the vibrancy and provision of the royal court. It emphasizes the depth of his need and the extent of David's kindness in reaching into such a place of obscurity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then king David sent, and fetched him":** This opening clause immediately establishes David's active role. The repetition of "sent" and "fetched" underscores the king's determination and the deliberate nature of his action. It highlights that Mephibosheth's change of circumstances was not accidental or self-initiated but a direct result of David's sovereign will and compassionate intent.
* **"out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel":** This specifies Mephibosheth's immediate dwelling place. Machir, a wealthy man from Gilead, provided refuge for Mephibosheth, indicating a measure of care, but also highlighting Mephibosheth's dependence and the fact that he was living under someone else's roof, not in a place of his own authority or prominence. His location with Machir, a loyal Israelite, suggests a safe but still hidden existence.
* **"from Lodebar":** This final phrase provides the broader geographical and symbolic context of Mephibosheth's obscurity. Lodebar, meaning "no pasture" or "no word," powerfully conveys a place of emptiness, desolation, and forgetfulness. It encapsulates Mephibosheth's marginalized status, far removed from the centers of power and influence, emphasizing the profound transformation that David's summons would bring.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Symbolism** is prominent in the name "Lodebar" itself. It functions as a symbol of spiritual barrenness, social isolation, and forgottenness, representing not just a physical location but Mephibosheth's entire condition of destitution and despair. The narrative also utilizes **Contrast** effectively, setting the desolate, "no-pasture" existence of Lodebar against the abundant, honorable, and secure environment of David's royal court, which Mephibosheth is about to enter. This stark juxtaposition magnifies the magnitude of David's grace. Furthermore, the entire episode, particularly David's proactive seeking and bringing forth, serves as **Foreshadowing** of a greater divine initiative. David's grace toward a disabled, forgotten individual from a rival house foreshadows God's own seeking out of humanity in its spiritual "Lodebar" to bring them into His kingdom and fellowship.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Samuel 9:5 serves as a profound illustration of God's character and His redemptive work. David's proactive search for Mephibosheth, his covenant faithfulness, and his extension of undeserved kindness mirrors divine grace. Just as Mephibosheth was lame, forgotten, and without hope in Lodebar, humanity is spiritually crippled by sin, alienated from God, and without inherent means of restoration. Yet, God, in His sovereign love and faithfulness to His covenant promises, initiates the search, reaching into our places of spiritual desolation to bring us into His presence and family. This act of grace transforms our status, from enemies or strangers to sons and daughters, seated at the King's table.

* [Ephesians 2:8-9](/ephesians/2-8 "Ephesians 2:8-9 - Saved by Grace Through Faith")
* [Luke 15:4-7](/luke/15-4 "Luke 15:4-7 - The Parable of the Lost Sheep")
* [Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene in 2 Samuel 9:5 is a powerful call to embody the very grace and faithfulness that David demonstrated. It challenges believers to actively seek out and extend kindness to those who are marginalized, forgotten, or in desperate circumstances, not for personal gain, but out of a genuine heart of compassion and covenant loyalty. Just as David remembered his oath to Jonathan, we are called to remember our commitments, particularly our call to love our neighbor as ourselves and to reflect God's restorative love in a broken world. This verse encourages us to look beyond outward appearances, perceived weaknesses, or past associations, and instead to see individuals through the lens of God's boundless grace, offering them dignity, belonging, and hope. It also serves as a profound reminder of our own spiritual journey: we, too, were once in a "Lodebar" of sin and separation, and it was God's initiative, His "sending and fetching," that brought us into His marvelous light and placed us at His table.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what "Lodebars" (places of desolation, despair, or forgottenness) might people in my community or sphere of influence be living today, and how can I, like David, actively seek them out with kindness?**
* **What promises or commitments have I made, perhaps long ago, that I need to revisit and faithfully fulfill, even if it requires personal effort or goes against conventional expectations?**
* **How does David's proactive grace towards Mephibosheth deepen my understanding of God's grace towards me, and how should this understanding shape my interactions with others?**

### FAQ
**Who was Machir, and why was Mephibosheth with him in Lodebar?**

Answer: Machir, the son of Ammiel, was a wealthy and influential man from Lodebar in Gilead, east of the Jordan River. He is later noted for providing provisions for David and his army during Absalom's rebellion ([2 Samuel 17:27-29](/2_samuel/17-27 "2 Samuel 17:27-29 - Machir's Provision for David")). Mephibosheth was likely with Machir because, after Saul's death and the subsequent instability, it was safer for a surviving member of the royal family to live in a remote, protected location away from the political center. Machir provided a refuge for Mephibosheth, indicating a measure of loyalty to the former royal house or simply a compassionate heart, keeping him safe but also hidden from David's potential retribution, which was customary for new kings.

**What is the symbolic significance of Mephibosheth's lameness in this narrative?**

Answer: Mephibosheth's lameness ([2 Samuel 4:4](/2_samuel/4-4 "2 Samuel 4:4 - Mephibosheth's Injury")) is highly symbolic within the narrative. Physically, it rendered him unable to flee or pose a military threat, reinforcing his vulnerability and dependence. Theologically, it often symbolizes humanity's spiritual inability or brokenness due to sin. Just as Mephibosheth could not come to David on his own, we are spiritually "lame" and unable to approach God or earn His favor. David's act of "fetching" him, despite his infirmity, powerfully illustrates God's grace that seeks out and restores the broken and helpless, bringing them into a relationship they could never initiate or deserve on their own.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The account of David sending for Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9:5 serves as a beautiful and poignant foreshadowing of the greater, ultimate grace demonstrated by Jesus Christ. Just as Mephibosheth was a forgotten, lame descendant of a former king, dwelling in a desolate "Lodebar" of obscurity and helplessness, humanity, in its fallen state, is spiritually crippled by sin, alienated from God, and dwelling in a "land of no pasture" ([Ephesians 2:1-3](/ephesians/2-1 "Ephesians 2:1-3 - Dead in Sin")). We are not merely invited but actively sought out by the true King. Christ, the Son of David, did not wait for us to come to Him in our brokenness; rather, He, in His infinite love and faithfulness to the new covenant, initiated the divine "sending and fetching." He descended from heaven to earth, reaching into the depths of our spiritual Lodebar, to rescue us from the house of sin and death ([Colossians 1:13](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13 - Delivered from Darkness")). Through His sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus brings us from a state of enmity and alienation to a position of honor and intimacy, seating us at His eternal table, not as servants but as co-heirs with Him ([Ephesians 2:6](/ephesians/2-6 "Ephesians 2:6 - Seated with Christ in Heavenly Places")). This divine act of grace transforms our identity, granting us full access to the King's presence and provision, fulfilling the promise of eternal life and fellowship with God ([Revelation 3:20](/revelation/3-20 "Revelation 3:20 - Jesus Stands at the Door")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.