Machir

From Bible Exegesis

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(1) Manasseh's oldest son (Joshua 17:1), or probably his only son (see 1 Chronicles 7:14, 1 Chronicles 7:15; compare Numbers 26:29-33; Joshua 13:31). His descendants are referred to under the name of Machirites, being the offspring of Gilead (Numbers 26:29). They settled in land taken from the Amorites (Numbers 32:39, Numbers 32:40; Deuteronomy 3:15) by a special enactment (Numbers 36:1-3; Joshua 17:3, Joshua 17:4). He is once mentioned as the representative of the tribe of Manasseh east of Jordan (Judges 5:14).

(2) A descendant of the preceding, residing at Lo-Debar, where he maintained Jonathan's son Mephibosheth till he was taken under the care of David (2 Samuel 9:4), and where he afterwards gave shelter to David himself when he was a fugitive (2 Samuel 17:27).