The flight of Mephibosheth’s nurse was clearly motivated by fear of David and his men. To secure the throne for David, his men had to make sure no heirs of Saul were left who might dispute David’s kingship by claiming dynastic rights for themselves. David’s view, on the other hand, was radically different. He was searching for heirs of Saul, not to slay them but to honor them. He was motivated to honor any surviving descendants of Saul not by his affection for Saul but by his love for Jonathan. The