2 Samuel 17:27-29

2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 Samuel 17:27 Mahanaim, a city in the deep canyon of the Jabbok River, is where Saul’s son Ish-bosheth had set up his capital before David became king (2 Samuel 2:8). Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites apparently was the brother of Hanun, the king of Ammon (2 Samuel 10:2). David had probably set him on the throne in place of his brother (2 Samuel 12:30). Machir had sheltered Mephibosheth in his childhood (2 Samuel 9:4). Barzillai later accompanies David on his trip back to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 19:31). The fact that these people came from a distance to help him suggests that David had real support in the area of Gilead.