Meaning
Machir sold. (1.) Manasseh's oldest son (Josh 17:1), or probably his only son (See 1Chr 7:14, 15; comp. Num 26:29-33; Josh 13:31). His descendants are referred to under the name of Machirites, being the offspring of Gilead (Num 26:29). They settled in land taken from the Amorites (Num 32:39, 40; Deut 3:15) by a special enactment (Num 36:1-3; Josh 17:3, 4). He is once mentioned as the representative of the tribe of Manasseh east of Jordan (Judg 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 (2Sam 9:4), and where he afterwards gave shelter to David himself when he was a fugitive (17:27).
