9 David restoreth all the lands of Saul’s to Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan. 10 He appointeth Ziba to see to the profit of his lands.

And David said, Is there yet any man left of the house of Saul, that I may show him mercy for [a]Jonathan’s sake?

And there was of the household 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, I thy servant am he.

Then the King said, Remaineth there yet none of the house of Saul, on whom I may show the [b]mercy of God? Ziba then answered the King, Jonathan hath yet a son (A)lame of his feet.

Then 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 of Lo Debar.

¶ Then king David sent, and took him out of the house of Machir the son of [c]Ammiel of Lo Debar.

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.

Then 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 [d]fields of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

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

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

10 Thou therefore and [g]thy sons and thy servants shall till the land for him, and bring in that thy master’s son may have food to eat. And Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread always 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, [h]that Mephibosheth may eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.

12 Mephibosheth also had a young son named Micha, and all that dwelled in the house of Ziba, were servants unto Mephibosheth.

13 And Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table, and was lame on both his feet.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 9:1 Because of mine oath and promise made to Jonathan, 1 Sam. 10:15.
  2. 2 Samuel 9:3 Such mercy as shall be acceptable to God.
  3. 2 Samuel 9:5 Who was also called Eliam the father of Bathsheba David’s wife.
  4. 2 Samuel 9:7 Or, lands.
  5. 2 Samuel 9:8 Meaning, a despised person.
  6. 2 Samuel 9:9 Or, nephew.
  7. 2 Samuel 9:10 Be ye provident overseers and governors of his lands, that they may be profitable.
  8. 2 Samuel 9:11 That Mephibosheth may have all things at commandment, as becometh a king’s son.

David and Mephibosheth

David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”(A)

Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba.(B) They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”

“At your service,” he replied.

The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”

Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan;(C) he is lame(D) in both feet.”

“Where is he?” the king asked.

Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir(E) son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”

So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.

When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.(F)

David said, “Mephibosheth!”

“At your service,” he replied.

“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan.(G) I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.(H)

Mephibosheth(I) bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog(J) like me?”

Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson(K) may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

11 Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s[a] table like one of the king’s sons.(L)

12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth.(M) 13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 9:11 Septuagint; Hebrew my