References (12)
[In this verse, which is a parenthesis, Jonathan's son Mephibosheth is introduced.] Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son who was lame in both feet. He was 5 years old when the report from Jezreel came about Saul and Jonathan. [Both Mephibosheth's father and grandfather had died in the battle of Gilboa in the valley of Jezreel, see . Mephibosheth's (Israel's heir to the throne) life was now at stake, as all potential successors were usually eliminated by new rulers.] His nurse [who was responsible for Mephibosheth when Jonathan went into battle] picked him up and fled, but during the chaotic escape he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
[Although the details are not given here, it is likely that the Philistines took control of the entire region and were heading south to plunder Saul's capital, Gibeah (; , just north of Jerusalem), where Mephibosheth was located. The text gives no details about how he fell; perhaps they jumped from a wall and he broke his legs, or suffered nerve damage to his neck that left him lame. Regardless, this must have created deep feelings of guilt in the nurse, who in a difficult situation tried to protect him, but an accident occurred and the child became disabled. The name Mephibosheth means "crushes shame"; outside the Books of Samuel, he is also called Merib-Baal, see ; . The mention of Mephibosheth here also has a literary point; in the next verse, it is mentioned how Saul's son Ish-Bosheth, which means "man of shame," dies. The author wants to give hope; the shame will be crushed. Mephibosheth will play a decisive role in future events, see ; ; .]
And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself on the ground. But David said, "Mephibosheth!" And he answered, "Here is your servant."
And you shall work the land for him, you and your sons and your servants, and you shall bring in the fruit, so that your master's son may have bread to eat, but Mephibosheth, your master's son, shall always (continually) eat bread at my table." Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.
And Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so shall your servant do; but Mephibosheth shall eat at my table as one of the king's sons." [The Hebrew has "my table," referring to King David's table.]
Mephibosheth had a young son named Micha. And all who lived in Ziba's house were servants to Mephibosheth.
But Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he always ate (continuously) at the king's table, and he was lame (crippled) in both his feet.
And when David had passed the top [of the Mount of Olives], behold, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, met him with a pair of donkeys, and on them 200 loaves of bread and 100 cakes of raisins and 100 summer fruits and a jar of wine.
And the king said to Ziba, "Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours." And Ziba said, "I humbly beg you, let me find favor (undeserved love – Hebr. chen) in your eyes, my lord the king."
And Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson (son), came down to meet the king [David], and he had not put shoes on his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he came home in peace (shalom).
And it came to pass, when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, "Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?"
And Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let him take everything, since my lord the king has come home in peace (shalom) to his own house."
But the king saved Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, Saul's son, because of the oath of the Lord (Yahweh) between them, between David and Jonathan, Saul's son.
