David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
Introduction:
Another glimpse into David’s character.
This passage highlights King David’s loyalty, kindness, and faithfulness, especially in honoring his covenant with Jonathan by showing compassion to Mephibosheth.
2 Samuel 9:1-13 NLT
David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
9:1 One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked.
“Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied.
3 The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.”
Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.”
4 “Where is he?” the king asked.
“In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.”
5 So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home. 6 His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.”
Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.”
7 “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!”
8 Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?”
9 Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
11 Ziba replied, “Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons.
12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.
Examine the Scriptures
2 Samuel 9:1-13 NLT
David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
9:1 One day
The events of this chapter take place a number of years after David’s capture of Jerusalem.
Mephibosheth was five years old at the time of his father’s death.
2 Samuel 4:4 NLT
4 (Saul’s son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth, who was crippled as a child. He was five years old when the report came from Jezreel that Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle. When the child’s nurse heard the news, she picked him up and fled. But as she hurried away, she dropped him, and he became crippled.)
Mephibosheth was now a father of a young son.
Verse 12
12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica.
Some commentators suggest Mephibosheth was about 20 to 25 years of age.
David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
- This passage is an illustration of David’s kindness toward Saul’s family.
Kindness, as used here, reflects a love that is enduring, committed, and rooted in a moral obligation, going beyond what is expected or required.
Compassion and generosity.
“Kindness” used here speaks of one who is faithfulness and one who keeps his promises (covenants).
It describes the devotion and loyalty between David and Jonathan.
Scripture tells us to be kind to others.
Ephesians 4:32 NLT
32 … be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Colossians 3:12 NLT
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT
4 Love is patient and kind.
- Scripture tells us to be kind to others.
Review: (remember)
David’s promise to Jonathan.
1 Samuel 20
14 And may you treat me (Jonathan) with the faithful love of the Lord as long as I live. But if I die, 15 treat my family with this faithful love, even when the Lord destroys all your enemies from the face of the earth.”
16 So Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, saying, “May the Lord destroy all your enemies!” 17 And Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.
42 At last Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn loyalty to each other in the Lord’s name. The Lord is the witness of a bond between us and our children forever.” Then David left, and Jonathan returned to the town.
David’s promise to Saul
1 Samuel 24:21-22 NLT
20 And now I (Saul) realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule.
21 Now swear to me by the Lord that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”
22 So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.
- David had not forgotten the promises he had made to Jonathan and Saul.
2 He (David) summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked.
2 Samuel 19:17 NLT
17 … including Ziba, the chief servant of the house of Saul …
“Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied.
3 The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.”
- David told Ziba that he wanted to show God’s kindness to anyone still alive from Saul’s family.
Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.”
Ziba tells David about Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, who is crippled in both feet.
(see comments under verse 1)
Note: Mephibosheth is a surviving descendant of a former king. As a surviving son, he would have been an heir to the throne. Many times, in the history of the Old Testament, in coming kings would kill off all those who might have a claim to the throne. Ziba, a servant of Saul, now revealed the hiding place of Mephibosheth, and David could have easily killed him.
This, and two future passages, 2 Samuel 16:3-4 and 2 Samuel 19:24-29, makes us wonder about Ziba’s true motives and integrity.
4 “Where is he?” the king asked.
“In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “
Lo-debar is located close to Mahanaim, the capital city of Mephibosheth’s late uncle, Ishbosheth.
This is located in the central part of Saul’s kingdom.
at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.”
Not much is known about Makir.
Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s crippled son was living in the home of Makir (Machir).
Makir later supported David during Absalom’s revolt. (2 Samuel 17:27-29)
5 So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home. 6 His name was Mephibosheth (or Merib-baal); he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.”
Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.”
- King David brings Mephibosheth to his palace.
7 “Don’t be afraid!” David said.
As an heir to Saul’s throne, Mephibosheth would have known that his life could be in danger.
- David reassures Mephibosheth, telling him not to fear.
“I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul,
- David promises to restore all of Saul’s land to Mephibosheth and declares that he will always have a place at the king’s table.
and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!”
This was a high honor.
David desired to honor Mephibosheth by bring him into the royal palace.
- In the ancient Near East, eating with someone expressed commitment to protect that person.
8 Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?”
Dead dog is an expression of deep self-abasement.
Worthless
Contemptible and useless.
Not worth much attention.
- Mephibosheth humbly responds, questioning why David would show kindness to someone like him.
9 Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family.
It is likely that Ziba had continued to manage Saul’s property after Saul’s death with the profits going to King David.
Everything that had belonged to Saul at the time of his death now belonged to Mephibosheth.
10 You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household.
Ziba would continue to manage the property that had belonged to Saul, but now the profits would go to Mephibosheth’s family.
David instructs Ziba, Saul’s former servant, to care for Mephibosheth’s land, along with Ziba’s sons and servants.
But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.”
- Ziba is assigned to manage the land and produce food for Mephibosheth’s household, while Mephibosheth himself will dine regularly at David’s table.
(Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
An indication of power and influence.
11 Ziba replied, “Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.”
And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons.
Mephibosheth eats at David’s table like one of David’s own sons, demonstrating the depth of David’s loyalty and kindness.
Mephibosheth, who is lame in both feet, lives in Jerusalem and enjoys the provisions and protection of David’s kindness.
12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica.
Dates unknown
From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants.
13 And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.
This passage highlights King David’s loyalty, kindness, and faithfulness, especially in honoring his covenant with Jonathan by showing compassion to Mephibosheth.
