King David wanted to know if there was anyone left in Saul’s house that he could show kindness towards because of Jonathan. Saul had a servant named Ziba and he was summoned to appear in front of David. The king asked the servant if he really was Ziba and the servant said that indeed he was.
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David Learns of Jonathan’s Son
Then David asked him that if there was anyone left in Saul’s house to whom he could offer God’s kindness. Ziba told David that one son of Jonathan’s was still alive and that he was lame in both feet. The king wanted to know where he could be found. Ziba told him that he was living in Lo Debar at Makir’s house. So David had Jonathan’s son brought to him from Lo Debar.
About Jonathan’s Son, Mephibosheth
When the son of Jonathan, Mephibosheth, arrived, he bowed before King David to honor him. The king told Mephibosheth that he should not be afraid because he would show him kindness since he was the son of Jonathan. David went on to tell him that he would give him the land that once belonged to his grandfather, Saul. He also told him that he could eat at his table.
Ziba’s Mission
David then summoned Ziba and told him that he had restored the land. The king told Ziba that he, along with his sons, was supposed to farm all of the land for Mephibosheth to provide crops for him. Ziba had 15 sons as well as 20 servants. Ziba then told David that he would do what he had been commanded to do. Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as though he was a son of the king.
Mika was the young son of Mephibosheth and every one of the members in Ziba’s household were made servants of Mephibosheth. During this time, Mephibosheth had been living in Jerusalem.
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2 Samuel 9 (King James Version)
1 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?
2 And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.
3 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.
4 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.
5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.
6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
8 And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master’s son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.
10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.
12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.
13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.