9
David Keeps His Promise to Jonathan
1 David asked, “Is there anyone left in Saul’s family to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
2 Now, Saul’s family had a servant whose name was Ziba. He was summoned to ⌞come to⌟ David. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked him.
“⌞Yes,⌟ I am,” he answered.
3 David asked, “Is there someone left in Saul’s family to whom I can show God’s kindness?”
“Jonathan has a son who is disabled,” Ziba answered.
4 “Where is he?” the king asked.
Ziba replied, “He is at the home of Machir, Ammiel’s son, in Lo Debar.”
5 So King David sent men to get him from the home of Ammiel’s son Machir in Lo Debar. 6 When Mephibosheth (son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul) came to David, he quickly bowed down with his face touching the ground.
“Mephibosheth!” David said to him.
“Yes, sir,” he answered.
7 “Don’t be afraid,” David told him, “I will certainly show you kindness for your father Jonathan’s sake. I will give back to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
8 Mephibosheth bowed down ⌞again⌟ and answered, “Who am I that you would look at a dead dog like me?”
9 Then the king called for Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You, your sons, and your servants should farm the land for him and harvest ⌞the crops⌟ so that your master’s family will have food to eat. However, your master’s grandson Mephibosheth will always eat at my table.” (Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.)
11 Ziba responded, “I will do everything you’ve commanded, Your Majesty.” From then on, Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons.
12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. Everyone who lived at Ziba’s home became Mephibosheth’s servant. 13 However, Mephibosheth, who was disabled, lived in Jerusalem. He always ate at the king’s table.