Chapter 9

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

1 Then David said, “Is there yet 1anyone left of the house of Saul, athat I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you aZiba?” And he said, “I am your servant.”

3 The king said, “Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the akindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “bThere is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet.”

4 So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is ain the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.”

5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.

6 aMephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and bfell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he said, “Here is your servant!”

7 David said to him, “Do not fear, for aI will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and bwill restore to you all the 1land of your 2grandfather Saul; and cyou shall 3eat at my table regularly.”

8 Again he prostrated himself and said, “What is your servant, that you should regard aa dead dog like me?”

9 Then the king called Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “aAll that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s 1grandson.

10 “You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master’s grandson may have food; nevertheless aMephibosheth your master’s grandson bshall 1eat at my table regularly.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According ato all that my lord the king commands his servant so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at 1David’s table as one of the king’s sons.

12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth.

13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for ahe ate at the king’s table regularly. Now bhe was lame in both feet.