2 Samuel 9

2Sa 9:1-12.

DAVID

SENDS FOR

MEPHIBOSHETH.

1-7. David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul--On

inquiry, Saul's land steward was found, who gave information that there

still survived Mephibosheth, a son of Jonathan who was five years old

at his father's death, and whom David, then wandering in exile, had

never seen. His lameness

(2Sa 4:4)

had prevented him from taking any part in the public contests of the

time. Besides, according to Oriental notions, the younger son of a

crowned monarch has a preferable claim to the succession over the son

of a mere heir-apparent; and hence his name was never heard of as the

rival of his uncle Ish-bosheth. His insignificance had led to his being

lost sight of, and it was only through Ziba that David learned of his

existence, and the retired life he passed with one of the great

families in trans-jordanic Canaan who remained attached to the fallen

dynasty. Mephibosheth was invited to court, and a place at the royal

table on public days was assigned him, as is still the custom with

Eastern monarchs. Saul's family estate, which had fallen to David in

right of his wife

(Nu 27:8),

or been forfeited to the crown by Ish-bosheth's rebellion

(2Sa 12:8),

was provided

(2Sa 9:11;

also

2Sa 19:28),

for enabling Mephibosheth to maintain an establishment suitable to his

rank, and Ziba appointed steward to manage it, on the condition of

receiving one-half of the produce in remuneration for his labor and

expense, while the other moiety was to be paid as rent to the owner of

the land

(2Sa 19:29).

10. Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants--The mention of his

sons and the slaves in his house was to show that Mephibosheth would be

honored with an equipage "as one of the king's sons."

12. Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micah--Whether born

before or after his residence in Jerusalem, cannot be ascertained. But

through him the name and memory of the excellent Jonathan was preserved

(see

1Ch 8:34, 35; 9:40, 41).