[1] And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
Of Saul — He saith not of the house of Jonathan, for he knew not of any son he had left, and therefore thought his kindness and obligation was to pass to the next of his kindred. As for Mephibosheth, he was very young and obscure, and possibly concealed by his friends, lest David should cut him off, as hath been usual among princes.
Verse 5
[5] Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.
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.
Verse 8
[8] And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
Bowed himself — It is good to have the heart humbled under humbling providences. If when divine providence brings our condition down, divine grace brings our spirits down, we shall be easy.
2 Samuel 9 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 1
[1] And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
Of Saul — He saith not of the house of Jonathan, for he knew not of any son he had left, and therefore thought his kindness and obligation was to pass to the next of his kindred. As for Mephibosheth, he was very young and obscure, and possibly concealed by his friends, lest David should cut him off, as hath been usual among princes.
Verse 5
[5] Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.
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.
Verse 8
[8] And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
Bowed himself — It is good to have the heart humbled under humbling providences. If when divine providence brings our condition down, divine grace brings our spirits down, we shall be easy.