2 Samuel9
New King James Version
1Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “At your service!”
3Then the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.”
4So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”
5Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
6Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?” And he answered, “Here is your servant!”
7So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”
8Then he bowed himself, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I?”
9And the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master’s son all that belonged to Saul and to all his house.
10You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.” “As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.”
12Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micha. And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.
13So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Samuel 9.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David sends for Mephibosheth. (1–8). And provides for him. (9–13).
vv1-8
Amidst numerous affairs we are apt to forget the gratitude we owe, and the engagements we are under, not only to our friends, but to God himself. Yet persons of real godliness will have no rest till they have discharged them. And the most proper objects of kindness and charity, frequently will not be found without inquiry. Jonathan was David's sworn friend, therefore he shows kindness to his son Mephibosheth. God is faithful to us; let us not be unfaithful to one another. If Providence has raised us, and our friends and their families are brought low, we must look upon that as giving us the fairer opportunity of being kind to them.
vv9-13
As David was a type of Christ, his Lord and Son, his Root and Offspring, let his kindness to Mephibosheth remind us of the kindness and love of God our Saviour to fallen man, to whom he was under no obligation, as David was to Jonathan. The Son of God seeks this lost and ruined race, who sought not after him. He comes to seek and to save them!
Key Words
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
יֵשׁ: there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)
יָתַר: to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left; causatively, to leave, cause to abound, preserve
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
שָׁאוּל: Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
חֵסֵד: kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
יְהוֹנָתָן: Jehonathan, the name of four Israelites
עָבוּר: properly, crossed, i.e. (abstractly) transit; used only adverbially, on account of, in order that
Cross References
2 Samuel 9The explicit covenant sworn between David and Jonathan, binding David to show kindness to Jonathan's house.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The historical background explaining how Mephibosheth became lame in his feet during his childhood.
Supported by JFB
Crucial context showing Ziba's later deceit and betrayal of Mephibosheth during Absalom's rebellion.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Mephibosheth later recalls David's extreme mercy in sparing and honoring him at his table.
Supported by JFB
David previously used the 'dead dog' self-deprecation to Saul; Mephibosheth now echoes it to David.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Genealogical confirmation of Jonathan's line surviving through Micah, fulfilling David's oath.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The origin of the deep love and covenant bond between David and Jonathan.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Confirms Ziba's family status, listing his fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Machir of Lo-debar later returns to support David in exile, showing his loyalty.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
David's subsequent ruling dividing the land between Mephibosheth and Ziba.
Supported by JFB
David spares Mephibosheth from the Gibeonites' execution of Saul's descendants due to the oath.