2 Samuel 9 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

2 Samuel 9

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

9:1 And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that 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 Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” 3 And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. 6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”

9 Then the king called 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 grandson. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s¹ table, like one of the king’s sons. 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.

Footnotes

[1] 9:11 Septuagint; Hebrew my

Commentary

v1-2: David had made promises to Jonathan (1 Sam 20.14-15), and to Saul (1 Sam 24.21-22), and he was faithful to these promises even at cost to himself.

This incident is a picture of God's grace to us in Christ;
God's initiative; "David asked", taking the initiative to bless; God has taken the initiative to send Christ to be our Saviour;
Our relationship, "of the house of Saul", ie: deserving death (19.28), rejected, without hope;
God's motive, "for Jonathan's sake"; i.e: for Christ's sake. It is in Christ that we receive the grace of God.

v3-4: Mephibosheth was lame in both his feet, see 4.4. He lived far away in Lo-Debar, near Gennesaret, 70-80 miles from Jerusalem. Doubtless he feared being killed by David, as an in-coming king often put to death the family of the previous king, and knowing the conflict between his family and David. He did not know that David only wanted to demonstrate to him the kindness of God.

Mephibosheth was lame in both his feet, a constant burden, and unable to repay David's kindness; we have nothing to offer God, and we can never repay His grace.

Mephibosheth was far away in Lo-Debar, meaning barren, or nothing; again, we are nothing, and can offer nothing. Our salvation is all of grace, that no flesh should glory in His presence (1 Cor 1.27-29).

v5-7: When Mephibosheth was brought to David, he was fearful. But David gave him reassurance.

In Christ there is reconciliation, unending kindness. There is also provision, being fed daily. Just as Mephibosheth was seated at the king's table, so we are seated in the Heavenly places in Christ.

v8: Mephibosheth showed humility, bowing down, even showing something of David's character; see 1 Sam 24.14. All who truly belong to Christ will receive His character, and become like Him.

v9-10: Ziba, Saul's servant, was to provide for Mephibosheth. He showed his willingness to obey.

v11-13: Mephibosheth ate at the king's table, as one of the king's sons; a permanent testimony of David's kindness. This too speaks of our adoption in Christ, "like one of the king's sons".