David and Mephibosheth

1And David said, “Is there one yet who is left to the house of Saul, that I may do for him kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”

2And to the house of Saul was a servant, and his name was Ziba. And they called him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”

And he said, “Your servant.”

3And the king said, “Is not still a man to the house of Saul, that I may show to him the kindness of God?”

And Ziba said to the king, “Of Jonathan there is still a son, lame in his feet.”

4And the king said to him, “Where is he?”

And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.”

5And King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar. 6And Mephibosheth† son of Jonathan, son of Saul, had come to David, and he fell on his face and bowed low.

And David said, “Mephibosheth.”

And he answered, “Behold, your servant!”

7And David said to him, “Do not fear, for surely I will show to you kindness for the sake of Jonathan your father, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather, and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”

8And he bowed low and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon a dead dog such as I?”

9And the king called to Ziba servant of Saul and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house, I have given to the son of your master. 10And you will work the land for him—you and your sons and your servants, and you shall bring in, that the son of your master may have food to eat. And Mephibosheth son of your master shall always eat bread at my table.”

And Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11And Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so your servant will do.”

“And as for Mephibosheth, he shall eat at David’s table,† like one of the sons of the king.” 12And to Mephibosheth was a young son, and his name was Mica.† And all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. 13And Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for at the table of the king he ate continually. And he was lame in both of his feet.