Living in Lo-Debar

Lo-debar was a frontier town east of Jordan that controlled a crucial plateau. Although a remote place, Lo-debar was an important route to the interior of the Bashan-Giliad area. Lo-debar was strategically located but not a desirable place to live. It was a town belonging to the tribe of Gad, a tribe that was committed to aiding the king of Israel whenever he needed help. Lo-debar was the town where the Philistines killed King Saul and his son Jonathan, and it became a Philistine stronghold. Later it became the headquarters of King David during the rebellion of his son Absalom. All things considered, it was not the most desirable place to live.

King Saul’s grandson, Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, also lived in Lo-debar even though that is where his father and grandfather were killed. He wasn’t a threat to the Philistines because he was crippled. He feared that if he returned to Jerusalem, people would kill him because often when a new king took over, the families of the deceased king were put to death as well. Mephibosheth could not take that chance, so he stayed and hid in an undesirable place. The fear of death kept him from reclaiming his inheritance.