2 Samuel 9:1–13

9:2 Background information is provided about the existence of Ziba, “a servant of the house of Saul.” After the death of Saul and his heirs, the king’s personal property (presumably at Gibeah) fell to the crown, and Ziba was left to manage the estate. Though he would have handed over any surplus to the royal treasury, the arrangement would have made him a wealthy man. In this and subsequent episodes it is hinted that Ziba is a shrewd and self-reliant individual.

Presumably David initiates appropriate inquiries about survivors, and members of his court summon Ziba to an interview with the king. “And the king said” is the first of six occurrences of “king” in verses 2–5. It is very much in his royal role that David is acting. While “I am your servant” is the conventional response of a loyal subject, there is no record of Ziba’s making obeisance, as Mephibosheth will subsequently do (vv. 6, 8).

9:3 David inquires of Ziba about survivors from Saul’s family, assuring him by the way he phrases matters that he harbors no ill intentions toward them. “The kindness [hesed; cf. v. 1] of God” might be a superlative usage—“overwhelming kindness”—or kindness patterned after the steadfast love of God, unfailing and generous. However, in light of 1 Samuel 20:17, 42, this probably refers to the kindness required before God as the one in whose name David’s covenant oath had been sworn.

Ziba remains chary about David’s intentions. Without naming Mephibosheth, he mentions the existence of a “son of Jonathan” as the only surviving son of Saul’s family, but he is careful to point out that this survivor is “crippled in his feet” (cf. 2 Sam. 4:4). This information is repeated by the narrator in 9:13 to demonstrate that Mephibosheth could not mount a viable challenge to David’s rule, as he is physically unable to lead an army in battle—a vital qualification for a contemporary king.

9:4 Ziba does inform David of where Mephibosheth is living. (Whether or not Ziba suppresses information about the other descendants of Saul mentioned in 21:8, or merely mentions Saul’s only potential heir, depends on the sequence of events.)

Machir is again mentioned in 17:27, where the help he extends to David shows that he is a rich and influential person whose home would therefore have been of ample size to accommodate Mephibosheth, with sufficient resources to maintain Saul’s probably destitute grandson. “Lo-debar” is located east of the Jordan, in Gilead.¹ It is not an Israelite city, and Machir may even be its ruler. Mephibosheth has been taken for safety to the same general area as that to which Ish-bosheth and other survivors of Saul’s regime have retreated.

9:5–6 David acts on the basis of the information he has been given, and Mephibosheth is brought to the royal court in Jerusalem. At the first occurrence of his name in the chapter (for its form, cf. comment on 4:4), his genealogy is provided. Three features—the treatment generally accorded to survivors from an ousted royal household, a factor emphasized by his genealogy; his disability, which would have rendered his journey grueling; and his upbringing far from the life of the court—combine to render him a trembling, flustered, and anxious figure who, with not a little difficulty, “fell on his face” (cf. 1 Sam. 20:41) “and paid homage” (cf. 1 Sam. 24:8) to David. There is a touch of warmth in “And David said,” which replaces “the king said” of the interview with Ziba. In response to the royal word of recognition, “Mephibosheth,” he gives the loyal answer “Behold, I am your servant”—similar to that of Ziba earlier (2 Sam. 9:2).

9:7 “Do not fear” are words of reassurance frequently uttered by God. With them David seeks to assuage Mephibosheth’s trepidation. The central theme of the chapter is encapsulated in “I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan.” “I will show” (cf. comment on 9:1) is here an intensified expression, “I will assuredly do,” reminiscent of the repeated use of this idiom in 1 Samuel 20. Though being reminded of his father and grandfather would not lessen Mephibosheth’s apprehension, David quickly explains his covenant commitment to Jonathan and, to Mephibosheth’s surprise, exercises his royal prerogative to confer on him two benefits. (1) David says, “I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father,” that is, his grandfather. This personal property, which in the ordinary course of events would have become his through his father, Jonathan, is substantial. By royal decree the impoverished Mephibosheth has become a rich man. (2) Additionally, David grants the privilege, “You shall eat at my table” (also in 2 Sam. 9:10, 11, 13). This is to accord him the honorable status of a prince of the realm (cf. David’s position in Saul’s household; 1 Samuel 20). Being treated as a member of the royal household grants access to the king and regular intimate contact with him. This special privilege will last “always,” without temporal restriction (2 Sam. 9:10, 13).

9:8 Overwhelmed with gratitude, Mephibosheth again pays homage. His self-depreciatory language, “a dead dog,” had been David’s description of himself when speaking to Saul (1 Sam. 24:14), but now it is used by Saul’s descendant when he becomes the recipient of David’s largesse.

9:9 Ziba has not been present when David has met Mephibosheth, and so he is recalled to court. Though a different term from verse 2 is used for Ziba as “Saul’s servant,” it is still his office as steward of Saul’s estate that is in view. He is informed of the royal decision: “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson [lit., “son”].” Presumably Ziba has lived off the produce of Saul’s property, and the surplus he has formerly handed over to David will now accrue to Mephibosheth.

9:10 Ziba is continued in his post because Mephibosheth’s disability impedes him from managing his estate personally. Moreover, Mephibosheth will eat at David’s table and so permanently reside in the capital.

“Till” (lit., “work” or “serve”) is probably used in a general sense, such as “farm the land.” “That your master’s grandson may have bread [used for “food” in general] to eat” suggests that the produce will be brought to Jerusalem to maintain Mephibosheth. Because this seems to be at variance with Mephibosheth’s eating at David’s table, the Septuagint has here “your master’s house,” implying that the produce will sustain other survivors of Saul’s household.

The narrator explains that Ziba, with “fifteen sons and twenty servants,” is well positioned to discharge his duties on what is a substantial estate. This provides background for the tension between Mephibosheth and Ziba in later chapters.

9:11b So Mephibosheth eats at “David’s [lit., “my”] table, like one of the king’s sons.” This high honor need not imply that he lives in the palace. Some of the king’s sons have their own houses in Jerusalem (13:7, 20) and have agricultural property nearby (13:23; 14:30). Still, Mephibosheth enjoys daily fellowship with the king.

9:12 The additional information about Mephibosheth’s “young son, whose name was Mica,” is presented to show that David’s favor extends to future generations. Mica has numerous offspring whose line can be traced until the fall of Jerusalem (1 Chron. 8:35–40; 9:40–44).

9:13 The concluding summary emphasizes that Mephibosheth enjoys royal favor, and the information is repeated that “he was lame in both his feet” (cf. v. 3), though “both” is a detail not previously mentioned. The tables have been reversed: a pitiable descendant of Saul relies on David’s bounty (cf. 1 Sam. 2:36). More than that, his physical condition means that he poses no threat to David.