2 Samuel 9

David's Kindness to Mephibosheth

1 Then David said, "Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, ¹that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"

2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, "Are you ²Ziba?" And he said, "I am your servant."

3 The king said, "Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the ³kindness of God?" And Ziba said to the king, "⁴There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet."

4 So the king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is ⁵in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar."

5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.

6 ⁶Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and ⁷fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, "Mephibosheth." And he said, "Here is your servant!"

7 David said to him, "Do not fear, for ⁸I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and ⁹will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and ¹⁰you shall eat at my table regularly."

8 Again he prostrated himself and said, "What is your servant, that you should regard ¹¹a dead dog like me?"

9 Then the king called Saul's servant Ziba and said to him, "¹²All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson.

10 "You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master's grandson may have food; nevertheless ¹³Mephibosheth your master's grandson ¹⁴shall eat at my table regularly." Now Ziba had fifteen * sons and twenty servants.

11 Then Ziba said to the king, "According ¹⁵to all that my lord the king commands his servant so your servant will do." So Mephibosheth ate at David's table as one of the king's sons.

12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth.

13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for ¹⁶he ate at the king's table regularly. Now ¹⁷he was lame in both 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!

Cross References

• 1. 1 Sam 20:14-17, 42
• 2. 2 Samuel 16:1-4; 2 Samuel 19:17, 29
• 3. 1 Samuel 20:14
• 4. 2 Samuel 4:4
• 5. 2 Samuel 17:27-29
• 6. 2 Samuel 16:4; 2 Samuel 19:24-30
• 7. 1 Samuel 25:23
• 8. 2 Samuel 9:1, 3
• 9. 2 Samuel 12:8
• 10. 2 Samuel 19:28; 1 Kings 2:7; 2 Kings 25:29
• 11. 2 Samuel 16:9; 1 Samuel 24:14
• 12. 2 Samuel 16:4; 2 Samuel 19:29
• 13. 2 Sam 9:7, 11, 13
• 14. 2 Samuel 19:28; 1 Kings 2:7
• 15. 2 Samuel 16:1-4; 2 Samuel 19:24-30
• 16. 2 Samuel 9:7, 11
• 17. 2 Samuel 9:3

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "he who is"
• [b]. Lit "field"
• [c]. Lit "father"
• [d]. Lit "eat bread"
• [e]. Lit "son"
• [f]. Lit "eat bread"
• [g]. Lit "my"

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.