2 Samuel — Chapter 9

Loading ESV text...

1And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?

2And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.

3And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.

4And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.

5Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.

6Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!

7And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

8And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

9Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master’s son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.

10Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.

12And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.

13So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.

1And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan`s sake?

2And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him unto David; and the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.

3And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, who is lame of his feet.

4And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.

5Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.

6And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came unto David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold, thy servant!

7And David said unto him, Fear not; for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father`s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

8And he did obeisance, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

9Then the king called to Ziba, Saul`s servant, and said unto him, All that pertained to Saul and to all his house have I given unto thy master`s son.

10And thou shalt till the land for him, thou, and thy sons, and thy servants; and thou shalt bring in [the fruits], that thy master`s son may have bread to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master`s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

11Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king commandeth his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, [said the king], he shall eat at my table, as one of the king`s sons.

12And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.

13So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem; for he did eat continually at the king`s table. And he was lame in both his feet.

1Then David asked, “Is anyone still left from the family of Saul, so that I may extend kindness to him for the sake of Jonathan?”

2Now there was a servant from Saul’s house named Ziba, so he was summoned to David. The king asked him, “Are you Ziba?” He replied, “At your service.”

3The king asked, “Is there not someone left from Saul’s family that I may extend God’s kindness to him?” Ziba said to the king, “One of Jonathan’s sons is left; both of his feet are crippled.”

4The king asked him, “Where is he?” Ziba told the king, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”

5So King David had him brought from the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.

6When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed low with his face toward the ground. David said, “Mephibosheth?” He replied, “Yes, at your service.”

7David said to him, “Don’t be afraid, because I will certainly extend kindness to you for the sake of Jonathan your father. I will give back to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will be a regular guest at my table.”

8Then Mephibosheth bowed and said, “Of what importance am I, your servant, that you show regard for a dead dog like me?”

9Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s attendant, and said to him, “Everything that belonged to Saul and to his entire house I hereby give to your master’s grandson.

10You will cultivate the land for him—you and your sons and your servants. You will bring its produce and it will be food for your master’s grandson to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will be a regular guest at my table.” (Now Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.)

11Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do everything that my lord the king has instructed his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth was a regular guest at David’s table, just as though he were one of the king’s sons.

12Now Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. All the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants.

13Mephibosheth was living in Jerusalem, for he was a regular guest at the king’s table. But both his feet were crippled.

1David said, “Is there yet any who is left of Saul’s house, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

2There was of Saul’s house a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “I am your servant.”

3The king said, “Is there not yet any of Saul’s house, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan still has a son, who is lame in his feet.”

4The king said to him, “Where is he?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”

5Then king David sent, and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.

6Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face, and showed respect. David said, “Mephibosheth.” He answered, “Behold, your servant!”

7David said to him, “Don’t be afraid; for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father. You will eat bread at my table continually.”

8He bowed down, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look at such a dead dog as I am?”

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

10Till the land for him, you, your sons, and your servants. Bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have bread to eat; but Mephibosheth your master’s son will always eat bread at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

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

12Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. All that lived in Ziba’s house were servants to Mephibosheth.

13So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem; for he ate continually at the king’s table. He was lame in both his feet.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

David shows covenant loyalty to Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, who is lame in both feet, restoring Saul's land to him and giving him a permanent place at the king's table. Grace triumphs over political expediency.

Authorship & Background

Author: Unknown, traditionally attributed to Nathan and Gad (1 Chronicles 29:29). Originally one book with 1 Samuel in the Hebrew Bible. The book covers David's entire reign — from his lament over Saul's death to the purchase of the threshing floor for the future Temple (approximately 1010-970 BC). Key themes: the Davidic covenant (chapter 7), the consequences of sin even for the forgiven (chapters 11-20), God's faithfulness despite human failure, and the establishment of the eternal throne fulfilled in Christ.
Historical Context: Chapter 9 is one of the most beautiful chapters in 2 Samuel — David's kindness to Mephibosheth, Jonathan's crippled son. In the ancient Near East, when a new dynasty took power, the standard practice was to eliminate all members of the previous royal family to prevent rival claims. David does the opposite: he actively seeks out survivors of Saul's house — not to destroy them but to show them "the kindness of God" (v.3). This is covenant loyalty (hesed) in action — David fulfilling his oath to Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:14-17, 42). Mephibosheth is found in Lo-debar ("no pasture" / "no thing") — a place of barrenness and obscurity east of the Jordan. He is crippled, impoverished, and living in fear. David restores all of Saul's land to him, provides servants to work it, and — most remarkably — gives him a permanent place at the king's table "as one of the king's sons" (v.11). This chapter is one of the clearest Old Testament pictures of the gospel: a helpless, crippled person, living in a place of nothing, is sought out by the king — not because of merit but because of covenant — and given a place at the king's table forever. This is grace.
David Seeks Saul's Survivors (vv.1-4): David's question is extraordinary: "Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" (v.1). No ancient king asked this question — they asked "Is there anyone left that I should eliminate?" David's motive is covenant love — "for Jonathan's sake." He is fulfilling his oath from 1 Samuel 20:14-15, where Jonathan asked David to show "the kindness of the LORD" to his house forever. David asks again in v.3: "that I may shew the kindness of God unto him" — not merely human kindness but divine kindness, God's own hesed channeled through David. Ziba, a servant of Saul's house, reveals that Jonathan has a surviving son — "lame on his feet" — living in Lo-debar in the house of Machir.
Mephibosheth Before David (vv.5-8): David sends for Mephibosheth — the king summons the cripple. Mephibosheth arrives terrified — "he fell on his face, and did reverence." He expects execution, not kindness. David speaks his name — "Mephibosheth" — personal, intimate. Then: "Fear not" — the same words God speaks to those He approaches in grace. David's promise is fourfold: (1) "I will surely shew thee kindness"; (2) "for Jonathan thy father's sake" — the basis is covenant, not merit; (3) "I will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father" — full restoration of inheritance; (4) "thou shalt eat bread at my table continually" — permanent fellowship with the king. Mephibosheth's response reveals his self-understanding: "What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?" — a "dead dog" was the most worthless thing imaginable. He knows he deserves nothing. This is the proper posture before grace.
The Provision (vv.9-13): David commands Ziba (with his fifteen sons and twenty servants) to farm Saul's restored land for Mephibosheth — providing income and sustenance. But Mephibosheth himself will eat at the king's table "as one of the king's sons." The chapter's final verse is poignant: "So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet." The narrator deliberately juxtaposes his privilege (the king's table) with his disability (lame on both feet). His condition did not change — but his position did. He was still crippled, but now he was crippled at the king's table. Grace does not always remove our weakness — but it always changes our standing.

Map & Geography

  • Lo-debar: A town in Transjordan (Gilead) where Mephibosheth has been living in obscurity — in the house of Machir
  • Jerusalem: Where David brings Mephibosheth to eat at the king's table permanently — a geography of grace
  • The contrast: From hiding in remote Transjordan to sitting at the king's table in the capital city

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik calls this chapter "a beautiful picture of God's grace" and traces the parallels: like Mephibosheth, we are crippled by the fall, living in a barren place, from a house in rebellion against the true King. Yet the King seeks us out — not to destroy but to show "the kindness of God." We are given a place at His table not because of our merit but because of Another's covenant (Christ's).
  • Charles Spurgeon: "Mephibosheth had nothing to recommend him to David's favor. He was lame, he was poor, he was of a fallen house, he dwelt in a barren land. But David sought him out — not for his sake but for Jonathan's sake. So God seeks us — not for our sake but for Christ's sake. We are the spiritual Mephibosheths: crippled by the fall, dwelling in the land of no-pasture, deserving nothing. Yet the King calls us by name, says 'Fear not,' and sets us at His table forever. This is the gospel."

Videos

The Bible Project — 2 Samuel Overview

Reflection

  • 1. Grace seeks the helpless (v.1). David did not wait for Mephibosheth to come to him — he actively sought him out. God does the same: "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Grace is initiative — God moves toward us before we move toward Him. We are all Mephibosheth — crippled, hiding, expecting judgment — until the King calls our name.
  • 2. The basis of grace is another's merit (v.7). David showed kindness "for Jonathan thy father's sake" — not for Mephibosheth's sake. God shows kindness to us for Christ's sake — not for ours. We contribute nothing to our salvation except the sin that made it necessary. Our standing before God rests entirely on Another's covenant faithfulness.
  • 3. Grace does not remove weakness but changes position (v.13). Mephibosheth remained lame — but he was lame at the king's table. God does not always heal our brokenness in this life, but He always changes our standing. We are still sinners — but we are sinners seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). The tablecloth of grace covers our crippled feet.
  • 4. The proper response to grace is humble wonder (v.8). "What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?" Mephibosheth did not negotiate terms or assert rights — he marveled that the king would even notice him. When we lose our sense of wonder at God's grace, we have forgotten what we are apart from it.
  • 5. Covenant loyalty outlasts death (vv.1, 7). Jonathan was dead — but David's covenant with him lived on, blessing Jonathan's son. Christ is risen — and His covenant with us lives forever, blessing all who belong to Him. Death cannot break covenant love. The promises of God transcend the grave.