2 Samuel 9:8-13

8 Again he prostrated himself and said, "What is your servant, that you should regard ¹a dead dog like me?"

9 Then the king called Saul's servant Ziba and said to him, "²All 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 ³Mephibosheth your master's grandson ⁴shall eat at my table regularly." Now Ziba had fifteen * sons and twenty servants.

11 Then Ziba said to the king, "According ⁵to 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 ⁶he ate at the king's table regularly. Now ⁷he was lame in both feet.

2 Samuel 9:8-13 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Samuel 16:9; 1 Samuel 24:14
• 2. 2 Samuel 16:4; 2 Samuel 19:29
• 3. 2 Sam 9:7, 11, 13
• 4. 2 Samuel 19:28; 1 Kings 2:7
• 5. 2 Samuel 16:1-4; 2 Samuel 19:24-30
• 6. 2 Samuel 9:7, 11
• 7. 2 Samuel 9:3

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "son"
• [b] Lit "eat bread"
• [c] Lit "my"