David Helps Saul’s Family(A)
9 David asked, “Is anyone still left in Saul’s ·family [L house]? I want to show ·kindness [loyalty] to that person for Jonathan’s sake [1 Sam. 20:13–15]!”
2 Now there was a servant named Ziba from Saul’s ·family [L house]. So David’s servants ·called [summoned] Ziba to him. King David said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
He answered, “·Yes, I am your servant [At your service].”
3 The king asked, “Is anyone left in Saul’s ·family [L house]? I want to show God’s kindness to that person.”
Ziba answered the king, “Jonathan has a son still living who is ·crippled [lame] 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 [and prostrated himself].
David said, “Mephibosheth!”
Mephibosheth said, “·I am your servant [At your service].”
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 [restore to you] all the ·land [property] of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table [C the king will provide for his provisions].”
8 Mephibosheth ·bowed [prostrated himself] to David again and said, “·You are being very kind to me, your servant! And I am no better than a dead dog! [L What is your servant, that you should show kindness/favor to a dead dog like me?]”
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 [L house]. 10 You, your sons, and your servants will farm the land and harvest the crops. ·Then your family […so your master’s household] 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 [lord], 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 [household] became Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table. And he was ·crippled [lame] in both feet.