2 Samuel 9

David Helps Saul’s Family

1 David asked, “Is anyone still left in Saul’s family? I want to show kindness to that person for Jonathan’s sake!”

2 Now there was a servant named Ziba from Saul’s family. So David’s servants called Ziba to him. King David said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
He answered, “Yes, I am your servant.”

3 The king asked, “Is anyone left in Saul’s family? I want to show God’s kindness to that person.”
Ziba answered the king, “Jonathan has a son still living who is crippled in both feet.”

4 The king asked Ziba, “Where is this son?”
Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”
5 Then King David had servants bring Jonathan’s son from the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.

6 Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, came before David and bowed facedown on the floor.
David said, “Mephibosheth!”
Mephibosheth said, “I am your servant.”

7 David said to him, “Don’t be afraid. I will be kind to you for your father Jonathan’s sake. I will give you back all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

8 Mephibosheth bowed to David again and said, “You are being very kind to me, your servant! And I am no better than a dead dog!”
9 Then King David called Saul’s servant Ziba. David said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family.

10 You, your sons, and your servants will farm the land and harvest the crops. Then your family will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will always eat at my table.”
(Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

11 Ziba said to King David, “I, your servant, will do everything my master, the king, commands me.”
So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as if he were one of the king’s sons.12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. Everyone in Ziba’s family became Mephibosheth’s servants.13 Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table. And he was crippled in both feet.

2 Samuel 9

David Finds Mephibosheth

1 s Then David asked, “Is anyone still left from the familyt of Saul, so that I may extend kindness to him for the sake of Jonathan?”
2 Now there was a servant from Saul’s house named Ziba, so he was summoned to David. The king asked him, “Are you Ziba?” He replied, “At your service.”t3 The king asked, “Is there not someone left from Saul’s family,t that I may extend God’s kindness to him?” Ziba said to the king, “One of Jonathan’s sons is left; both of his feet are crippled.”

4 The king asked him, “Where is he?” Ziba told the king, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.
5 So King David had him broughtt from the house of Makir son of Ammiel int Lo Debar.

6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed low with his face toward the ground.t David said, “Mephibosheth?” He replied, “Yes, at your service.”t
7 David said to him, “Don’t be afraid, because I will certainly extend kindness to you for the sake of Jonathan your father. You will be a regular guest at my table.”t

8 Then Mephiboshetht bowed and said, “Of what importance am I, your servant, that you show regard for a dead dog like me?”t
9 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s attendant, and said to him, “Everything that belonged to Saul and to his entire house I hereby give to your master’s grandson.

10 You will cultivatet the land for him – you and your sons and your servants. You will bring its producet and it will bes food for your master’s grandson to eat.t But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will be a regular guest at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

11 Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do everything that my lord the king has instructed his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth was a regular guestt at David’s table,s just as though he were one of the king’s sons.
12 Now Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. All the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants.

13 Mephibosheth was living in Jerusalem,s for he was a regular guest at the king’s table. But both his feet were crippled.