Who was Machir in the Bible?

Machir, son of Ammiel, was a wealthy and loyal Israelite from Lo-debar. He is best known for providing refuge to Mephibosheth, King Saul's grandson, and later supporting King David with supplies during Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 9:4-5; 17:27).

Why is Machir important in King David's story?

Machir demonstrated significant loyalty to David in two key moments. First, he protected David's covenant friend's son, Mephibosheth, and later he supplied David's exhausted army with essential goods when David fled from Absalom (2 Samuel 17:27-29).

Where was Machir from, and what does the name mean?

Machir was from Lo-debar, a town in Gilead east of the Jordan River. The name 'Machir' means 'sold' or 'bartered,' and he is a different person from the more prominent Machir, son of Manasseh, from the book of Numbers.

Machir

Old TestamentUnited MonarchyMaleSon

Machir, the son of Ammiel, hosted Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, in Lo-debar and later provided supplies to David during Absalom's rebellion (2Sa.9.4,5; 17.27).

Machir

Biography

Machir son of Ammiel was a wealthy and generous resident of Lo-debar in the Transjordan who played a quietly heroic role in the narrative of David's kingship. After the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, Machir took in Mephibosheth, Jonathan's crippled son, providing him shelter and sustenance at a time when the house of Saul was in disgrace and danger (2 Samuel 9:4-5). When David sought to show kindness to any surviving member of Saul's family for Jonathan's sake, it was from Machir's household that Mephibosheth was brought to Jerusalem. Years later, when David fled Jerusalem during Absalom's rebellion, Machir was among those who brought provisions to the king and his followers at Mahanaim (2 Samuel 17:27), demonstrating steadfast loyalty across decades.

Significance

Machir son of Ammiel exemplifies the biblical virtue of hesed, loyal, covenantal kindness, extended without expectation of reward. His care for Mephibosheth, a disabled descendant of a fallen king, mirrors the kind of grace that David himself later showed and that ultimately points to God's own compassion for the vulnerable. Machir's later provision for David during Absalom's revolt reveals a man of consistent character, faithful in both obscurity and crisis. His story teaches that hospitality and generosity toward the marginalized are acts of profound spiritual significance, and that those who practice kindness in hidden ways often prove to be pillars of support when God's purposes face their greatest tests.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherManassehSpouseQ128190009ChildGileadChildHammolehethChildSheresh

Verse Appearances (3)

2Sam

2Sam 9:4 2Sam 9:5 2Sam 17:27

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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