2 Samuel Chapter 9
1 David said, "Is there yet any who is left of Saul's house, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"
2 There was of Saul's house a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" He said, "I am your servant."
3 The king said, "Is there not yet any of Saul's house, that I may show the kindness of God to him?" Ziba said to the king, "Jonathan still has a son, who is lame in his feet."
4 The king said to him, "Where is he?" Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar."
5 Then king David sent, and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
6 Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face, and showed respect. David said, "Mephibosheth." He answered, "Behold, your servant!"
7 David said to him, "Don't be afraid; for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father. You will eat bread at my table continually."
8 He bowed down, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look at such a dead dog as I am?"
9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's son.
10 Till the land for him, you, your sons, and your servants. Bring in the harvest, that your master's son may have bread to eat; but Mephibosheth your master's son will always eat bread at my table." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do." So Mephibosheth ate at the king's table, like one of the king's sons.
12 Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. All that lived in Ziba's house were servants to Mephibosheth.
13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem; for he ate continually at the king's table. He was lame in both his feet.
Footnotes
Version: World English Bible
- About World English Bible (WEB)
- WEB Glossary
- WEB Web Site (source documents)
- Bible on one web page
- Download WEB (for MS Word)
Audio
To Listen to this Chapter
The mp3 Audio File should start to play in a new Tab. Then return to this Tab to follow the text whilst listening.
2 Samuel Chapter 9 Guide
There is an exquisite tenderness about the story here recorded. David's love for Jonathan was still fresh. One can easily imagine how in the days of his growing prosperity the king would often think of the former strenuous times and of his friend's loyalty to him under circumstances so full of stress and peril.
For David the house of Saul, which had done him so much harm, was redeemed by his love for Jonathan; and he instituted an inquiry whether any were left of this house to whom he might show kindness for the sake of his friend.
The inquiry resulted in the finding of Mephibosheth, whose very lameness was tragic and pathetic, in that it had been caused by the flight of his nurse on the awful day of Jezreel, when his father and grandfather had fallen together.
To him the king restored the lands of Saul, and sat him as an honoured guest at his own table. David's own account of his action was that he desired to "show kindness of God unto him." This declaration recalls the words of the covenant made between him and Jonathan long before, in which his friend had charged him to show him "the kindness of the Lord," and also that he should show this same kindness to his house forever.
In all this David appears as a man after God's own heart. The common attitude of human nature would not permit such action. It is ever the kindness of God which heaps favors on representatives of enemies.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
2 Samuel Chapter 9 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- 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!
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.