2 Samuele 9
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
3. LA FAMIGLIA DI DAVIDE E GLI INTRIGHI PER LA SUCCESSIONE
A. Merib-Bàal
Bontà di Davide verso il figlio di Gionata
9 Davide disse: «E' forse rimasto qualcuno della casa di Saul, a cui io possa fare del bene a causa di Giònata?». 2 Ora vi era un servo della casa di Saul, chiamato Zibà, che fu fatto venire presso Davide. Il re gli chiese: «Sei tu Zibà?». Quegli rispose: «Sì». 3 Il re gli disse: «Non c'è più nessuno della casa di Saul, a cui io possa usare la misericordia di Dio?». Zibà rispose al re: «Vi è ancora un figlio di Giònata storpio dei piedi». 4 Il re gli disse: «Dov'è?». Zibà rispose al re: «E' in casa di Machìr figlio di Ammièl a Lodebàr». 5 Allora il re lo mandò a prendere in casa di Machìr figlio di Ammièl a Lodebàr. 6 Merib-Bàal figlio di Giònata, figlio di Saul, venne da Davide, si gettò con la faccia a terra e si prostrò davanti a lui. Davide disse: «Merib-Bàal!». Rispose: 7 «Ecco il tuo servo!». Davide gli disse: «Non temere, perché voglio trattarti con bontà per amore di Giònata tuo padre e ti restituisco tutti i campi di Saul tuo avo e tu mangerai sempre alla mia tavola». 8 Merib-Bàal si prostrò e disse: «Che cos'è il tuo servo, perché tu prenda in considerazione un cane morto come sono io?». 9 Allora il re chiamò Zibà servo di Saul e gli disse: «Quanto apparteneva a Saul e a tutta la sua casa, io lo dò al figlio del tuo Signore. 10 Tu dunque con i figli e gli schiavi lavorerai per lui la terra e ne raccoglierai i prodotti, perché abbia pane e nutrimento la casa del tuo signore; quanto a Merib-Bàal figlio del tuo signore, mangerà sempre alla mia tavola». Ora Zibà aveva quindici figli e venti schiavi. 11 Zibà disse al re: «Il tuo servo farà quanto il re mio signore ordina al suo servo». Merib-Bàal dunque mangiava alla tavola di Davide come uno dei figli del re. 12 Merib-Bàal aveva un figlioletto chiamato Micà; tutti quelli che stavano in casa di Zibà erano al servizio di Merib-Bàal.
2 Samuel 9
King James Version
9 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
2 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 shew 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 shew 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
English Standard Version
David's Kindness to Mephibosheth
9 And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may (A)show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was (B)Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” 3 And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show (C)the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of (D)Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of (E)Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. 6 And (F)Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear, (G)for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and (H)you shall eat at my table always.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for (I)a dead dog such as I?”
9 Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master's grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master's grandson (J)shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had (K)fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth (L)ate at David's[a] table, like one of the king's sons. 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, (M)whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba's house became Mephibosheth's servants. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for (N)he ate always at the king's table. Now (O)he was lame in both his feet.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 9:11 Septuagint; Hebrew my
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
