2 Samuel 9:3–11

³Then the king said, “But is there still anyone of Saul’s household that I may show the loyal love of God with him?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in the feet.” ⁴The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is here^b in the house of Makir the son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.” ⁵So King David sent and brought him from the house of Makir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar. ⁶So Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David. And he fell on his face and did obeisance. David said, “Mephibosheth,” and he said, “I am ready to serve you.”^{c 7}Then David said to him, “Don’t be afraid, for I will certainly show^d loyal love to you for the sake of Jonathan your father, and I will restore to you all the lands of Saul your father. And you shall always eat food at my table.” ⁸Then he^e did obeisance and said, “What is your servant that you have paid attention to the dead dog like me?”

⁹David summoned Ziba the servant of Saul and said to him, “All that was Saul’s and all his household I have given to the son of your master. ¹⁰You shall till the land for him, you and your sons and your servants; you shall bring in the produce and it shall be food for the son of your master that he may eat. But Mephibosheth the son of your master may always eat food at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty slaves.) ¹¹Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my master the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth was eating at his table as one of the sons of the king.