⁷ The king spared Mephibosheth^(A) son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath^(B) before the Lord between David and Jonathan son of Saul.

⁴ (Jonathan^(A) son of Saul had a son who was lame in both feet. He was five years old when the news^(B) about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried to leave, he fell and became disabled.^(C) His name was Mephibosheth.)^(D)

¹⁸ The two of them made a covenant^(A) before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.

¹⁵ and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family^(A)—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”

³ And Jonathan made a covenant^(A) with David because he loved him as himself.

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^(A) may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

⁸ As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant^(A) with you before the Lord. If I am guilty, then kill^(B) me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?”

⁴² Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace,^(A) for we have sworn friendship^(B) with each other in the name of the Lord,^(C) saying, ‘The Lord is witness^(D) between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.^(E)’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.^[a]

¹⁷ And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath^(A) out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.

²⁵ When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you go with me,^(A) Mephibosheth?”