⁷ The king spared Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth,^[a] who was Saul’s grandson, because of the oath David and Jonathan had sworn before the Lord.

⁴ (Saul’s son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth,^[a] who was crippled as a child. He was five years old when the report came from Jezreel that Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle. When the child’s nurse heard the news, she picked him up and fled. But as she hurried away, she dropped him, and he became crippled.)

¹⁸ So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the Lord. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.

¹⁵ treat my family with this faithful love, even when the Lord destroys all your enemies from the face of the earth.”

³ And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself.

¹⁰ You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household.^[a] But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

⁸ Show me this loyalty as my sworn friend—for we made a solemn pact before the Lord—or kill me yourself if I have sinned against your father. But please don’t betray me to him!”

⁴² At last Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn loyalty to each other in the Lord’s name. The Lord is the witness of a bond between us and our children forever.” Then David left, and Jonathan returned to the town.^[a]

¹⁷ And Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.

²⁵ “Why didn’t you come with me, Mephibosheth?” the king asked him.