2 Samuel 9

1 David said, Is there yet any who is left of the house of Sha'ul, that I may show him kindness for Yonatan's sake?

2 There was of the house of Sha'ul a servant whose name was Tziva, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, Are you Tziva? He said, Your servant is he.

3 The king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Sha'ul, that I may show the kindness of God to him? Tziva said to the king, Yonatan has yet a son, who is lame of his feet.

4 The king said to him, Where is he? Tziva said to the king, Behold, he is in the house of Makhir the son of `Ammi'el, in Lo-Devar.

5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Makhir the son of `Ammi'el, from Lo-Devar.

6 Mefivoshet, the son of Yonatan, the son of Sha'ul, came to David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. David said, Mefivoshet. He answered, Behold, your servant!

7 David said to him, "Don't be afraid of him; for I will surely show you kindness for Yonatan your father's sake, and will restore you all the land of Sha'ul your father; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.

8 He did obeisance, and said, What is your servant, that you should look on such a dead dog as I am?

9 Then the king called to Tziva, Sha'ul's servant, and said to him, All that pertained to Sha'ul and to all his house have I given to your master's son.

10 You shall till the land for him, you, and your sons, and your servants; and you shall bring in [the fruits], that your master's son may have bread to eat: but Mefivoshet your master's son shall eat bread always at my table. Now Tziva had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11 Then said Tziva to the king, According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so shall your servant do. As for Mefivoshet, [said the king], he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons.

12 Mefivoshet had a young son, whose name was Mikha. All that lived in the house of Tziva were servants to Mefivoshet.

13 So Mefivoshet lived in Yerushalayim; for he ate continually at the king's table. He was lame in both his feet.

2 Samuel 9 Commentary

Chapter 9

David sends for Mephibosheth. (1-8) And provides for him. (9-13)

Verses 1-8 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.

Verses 9-13 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!

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 9

This chapter relates David's inquiry after the posterity of Saul, whether any were living and where they were, 2Sa 9:1-4; and on inquiry being informed of one, he sent for him, and kindly received him, 2Sa 9:5-8; and restored to him the land of his fathers, and appointed a person to till it for him, and bring him the fruits of it, and maintained him at his own table, 2Sa 9:9-13.