2 Samuel 9

David Seeks Someone from Saul’s House

1David said, “Is there still anyone left from the house of Saul, so that I may show steadfast love to him for Jonathan’s sake?” 2There was a servant of Saul’s house whose name was Ziba. They called him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “Your servant.” 3The king said, “Is there not still someone from the house of Saul, so that I may show the steadfast love of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan, crippled in both feet.” 4The king said to him, “Where is he?” Ziba said to the king, “Look, he is in the house of Machir son of Ammiel at Lo-Debar.” 5Then King David sent and took him from the house of Machir son of Ammiel, from Lo-Debar.

Mephibosheth Comes before David

6Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David, fell upon his face, and bowed down. David said, “Mephibosheth.” He said, “Look, your servant.” 7David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show steadfast love to you for the sake of Jonathan your father. I will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather, and you yourself will eat bread at my table continually.” 8He bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you have turned toward a dead dog like me?”

Ziba Is Assigned to Serve Mephibosheth

9Then the king called 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. 10You will work the land for him, you and your sons and your servants, and bring in the produce, so that your master’s son has bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son will eat bread continually at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons. 12Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. Everyone who lived in Ziba’s house were servants to Mephibosheth. 13So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. He was crippled in both his feet.