Ziba, a False Servant

16 Now when David had passed (A)a little beyond the summit, behold, (B)Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him (C)with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a jug of wine. The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” And Ziba said, “(D)The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine, (E)for whoever is faint in the wilderness to drink.” Then the king said, “And where is (F)your master’s son?” And (G)Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’” So the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I prostrate myself; let me find favor in your sight, O my lord, the king!”

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David and Ziba

16 When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba,(A) the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine.(B)

The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?”

Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh(C) those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”

The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?”(D)

Ziba(E) said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather’s kingdom.’”

Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth(F) is now yours.”

“I humbly bow,” Ziba said. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”

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24 Then (A)Mephibosheth the [a]son of Saul came down to meet the king; and (B)he had neither [b]cared for his feet, nor [c]trimmed his mustache, nor (C)washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace. 25 It was when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “(D)Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” 26 So he answered, “O my lord, the king, my servant deceived me; for your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ (E)because your servant is lame. 27 Moreover, (F)he has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is (G)like the angel of God, therefore do what is good in your sight. 28 For (H)all my father’s household was nothing but dead men before my lord the king; (I)yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right do I have yet that I should [d]complain anymore to the king?” 29 So the king said to him, “Why do you still speak of your affairs? I have [e]decided, ‘You and Ziba shall divide the land.’” 30 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him even take it all, since my lord the king has come safely to his own house.”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 19:24 I.e. grandson
  2. 2 Samuel 19:24 Lit done
  3. 2 Samuel 19:24 Lit done
  4. 2 Samuel 19:28 Lit cry out
  5. 2 Samuel 19:29 Lit said

24 Mephibosheth,(A) Saul’s grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. 25 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you go with me,(B) Mephibosheth?”

26 He said, “My lord the king, since I your servant am lame,(C) I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled and will ride on it, so I can go with the king.’ But Ziba(D) my servant betrayed me. 27 And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel(E) of God; so do whatever you wish. 28 All my grandfather’s descendants deserved nothing but death(F) from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your table.(G) So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?”

29 The king said to him, “Why say more? I order you and Ziba to divide the land.”

30 Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has returned home safely.”

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