The narrator pauses the action to inform us of Ziba’s existence, delaying the appearance of Mephibosheth, so we can attend to David’s exchange with Ziba in which David repeats his earlier question. Ziba, who was once a trusted member of Saul’s court, responds to David’s summons with (literally) “your servant” (rendered in the NRSV with “at your service”). Not only is Saul’s servant now loyal to David, but this is the first time in the David Narrative that David receives such a deferential form of