Search Tools

And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?

And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.

3

And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.

4

And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.

5

Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

6

Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!

7

And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

8

And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

9

Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.

10

Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen ° sons and twenty servants.

11

Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons.

12

And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.

13

So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.

2 Samuel 9:1

9:1 for Jonathan’s sake. David knew that all of Saul’s sons were dead, but he remembered his promises to Jonathan and to Saul (I Samuel 20:15,42; 24:21).

2 Samuel 9:3

9:3 lame on his feet. The account of the accident which crippled Mephibosheth is given in II Samuel 4:4.

2 Samuel 9:7

9:7 Fear not. Mephibosheth had reason to fear: it was customary for victorious kings to slay all the sons of the previous king, to prevent one of them trying to regain the kingdom. But David —like God acting toward us—acted in grace toward Mephibosheth for Jonathan’s sake.

2 Samuel 9:12

9:12 whose name was Micha. From this great-grandson of Saul’s the family of Saul continued on for many generations (I Chronicles 8:34-40).

2 Samuel 9:13

9:13 Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth, in a sense, can be considered a type of the helpless sinner, saved by grace, and raised from his helpless condition to sup at the table of the King, all because the great King loved the Friend who died.

The Institute for Creation Research

New Defender's Study Bible Notes

ICR Menu