Mephibosheth (1 Samuel 20:14–17; 1 Samuel 20:42; 2 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 9:1–5; 2 Samuel 9:6–8; 2 Samuel 9:9–11; 2 Samuel 9:12–13; 2 Samuel 16:1–4; 2 Samuel 19:17; 2 Samuel 19:24–30; 2 Samuel 21:7)

Son of Jonathan, Who Ate at the King's Table

A son of Jonathan who became lame in both feet when his nurse fled with him at five years old, was found in Lo-debar and brought to David for Jonathan's sake, ate at the king's table, was accused by Ziba and answered David himself, and was spared when seven of Saul's line were given up.

He first appears in a single verse: “Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth” (2 Samuel 4:4).

Later David asked, “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1). Ziba told him of Jonathan's son in Lo-debar, and David sent and fetched him. Mephibosheth fell on his face, and David promised him all the land of Saul and a place at the king's table; he answered, “What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?” (2 Samuel 9:8). He had a young son named Mica, and he “dwelt in Jerusalem; for he did eat continually at the king’s table” (2 Samuel 9:13).

When David fled Jerusalem, Ziba met him with supplies and said that Mephibosheth abode at Jerusalem, saying, “To-day will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father” (2 Samuel 16:3); David gave Ziba all that belonged to Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 16:4). When David came home in peace, Mephibosheth gave a different account: “my servant deceived me” (2 Samuel 19:26). David said, “Thou and Ziba divide the land” (2 Samuel 19:29), and Mephibosheth answered, “let him take all” (2 Samuel 19:30). The text gives each man's words and does not say which was true. In the famine, “the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Jehovah’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan” (2 Samuel 21:7). Scripture does not record his death.

Strengths

• Did obeisance before the king
• Unwashed until the king came home
• Let Ziba take all

Themes

• Kindness for Jonathan's sake
• The oath between David and Jonathan
• The king's table
• Lameness
• Two accounts of one matter

Lame from a fall at five years old (2 Samuel 4:4)

When the tidings of Saul and Jonathan came out of Jezreel, his nurse took up the five-year-old Mephibosheth and fled, and in her haste he fell and became lame.

David asks for the house of Saul (2 Samuel 9:1–5)

David asks whether any of Saul's house is left to whom he may show kindness for Jonathan's sake; Ziba tells of Jonathan's son, lame of his feet, at Machir's house in Lo-debar, and David fetches him.

Before David (2 Samuel 9:6–8)

Mephibosheth falls on his face, David promises him kindness for Jonathan's sake, the land of Saul and a place at his table, and Mephibosheth calls himself a dead dog.

Before David

“And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came unto David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold, thy servant!” (2 Samuel 9:6).

“And David said unto him, Fear not; for I will surely show 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” (2 Samuel 9:7).

“And he did obeisance, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?” (2 Samuel 9:8).

The land and the king's table (2 Samuel 9:9–11)

David gives Saul's possessions to Mephibosheth, charges Ziba and his household to till the land for him, and has Mephibosheth eat at the king's table as one of the king's sons.

A son named Mica, and a home in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 9:12–13)

Mephibosheth has a young son, Mica; Ziba's household serves him, and he dwells in Jerusalem, eating continually at the king's table, lame in both feet.

Ziba meets David with supplies (2 Samuel 16:1–4)

As David leaves Jerusalem, Ziba brings supplies and says Mephibosheth abides at Jerusalem and has said the house of Israel will restore him the kingdom of his father; David gives Ziba all that belonged to Mephibosheth.

Ziba meets David with supplies

“Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and a hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine” (2 Samuel 16:1).

“And the king said, And where is thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem; for he said, To-day will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father” (2 Samuel 16:3).

These are Ziba's words; the narrator adds nothing to them. “Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine is all that pertaineth unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I do obeisance; let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, O king” (2 Samuel 16:4).

Meets David on his return (2 Samuel 19:24–30)

Mephibosheth comes down to meet the king, his feet undressed, beard untrimmed and clothes unwashed since David departed; he says his servant deceived and slandered him, David orders the land divided, and Mephibosheth says Ziba may take all.

Meets David on his return

“And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace” (2 Samuel 19:24). When the king asked, “Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?” (2 Samuel 19:25), he answered:

“My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go with the king; because thy servant is lame. And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes” (2 Samuel 19:26-27).

“For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should cry any more unto the king?” (2 Samuel 19:28). The king said, “Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I say, Thou and Ziba divide the land.” (2 Samuel 19:29) And Mephibosheth said, “yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come in peace unto his own house” (2 Samuel 19:30).

Spared for the LORD's oath (2 Samuel 21:1–9)

When David gives up seven men of Saul's line to the Gibeonites, the king spares Mephibosheth son of Jonathan because of the oath between David and Jonathan.

Spared for the LORD's oath

In a famine David asked the Gibeonites what he should do for them, and seven men of Saul's sons were to be delivered unto them (2 Samuel 21:1-6). “But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Jehovah’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul” (2 Samuel 21:7).

Jonathan and David had sworn, “Jehovah shall be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed, for ever” (1 Samuel 20:42). Another Mephibosheth, a son of Rizpah by Saul, was among the seven given up (2 Samuel 21:8).

Jonathan (2 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 9:1; 2 Samuel 9:7)

His father; David showed kindness to him for Jonathan's sake.

Saul (2 Samuel 9:6–7; 2 Samuel 19:24)

His grandfather; David promised to restore him all the land of Saul.

David (2 Samuel 9:1–13; 2 Samuel 19:24–30; 2 Samuel 21:7)

The king who sent for him, set him at his table, gave judgment between him and Ziba, and spared him.

Ziba (2 Samuel 9:2–12; 2 Samuel 16:1–4; 2 Samuel 19:26–29)

Saul's servant, who told David of him and was charged to till his land; Mephibosheth later said Ziba had deceived and slandered him.

Machir the son of Ammiel (2 Samuel 9:4–5)

In his house at Lo-debar Mephibosheth was found.

Mica (2 Samuel 9:12)

The LORD (1 Samuel 20:42; 2 Samuel 21:7)

The oath between David and Jonathan is called the oath of the LORD, and for it the king spared Mephibosheth.

Major sections

• 2 Samuel 4:4
• 2 Samuel 9
• 2 Samuel 16:1–4
• 2 Samuel 19:24–30
• 2 Samuel 21:7

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