2 Samuel 9

1 Then David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] asked, “Is there [exists, remains] anyone left [still remaining, surviving] from the house [family, household] of Saul [Shaul, meaning desired] to whom I can show [demonstrate, extend] kindness [loving actions, mercy] for the sake of [because of, on account of] Jonathan [Jehonathan, Jehovah has given]?” word study 2 And there was a [faithful, devoted] servant [one who serves, attendant] of Saul’s [Shaul, the desired one] family [house, household] named Ziba [meaning’statue’]. They summoned [called out to, invited] him to David [the beloved king], and the king [the monarch, ruler] inquired [asked, questioned], “Are you [is this you, the one I seek] Ziba [the remembered one]?” “I am [I exist, I am present] your servant [one who serves, attendant],” he replied [answered, responded]. word study 3 So the king [ruler, monarch] asked, “Is there anyone left [remaining, still existing] of Saul’s [Shaul, the first king of Israel] family to whom I can show [demonstrate, display] the kindness [mercy, loving-kindness] of God [Elohim, the supreme Creator]?” Ziba answered, “There is still [yet, remaining] Jonathan’s [Jehonathan, given by God] son, who is lame [crippled, maimed] in both feet [the lower extremities].” word study 4 “Where [in what place or location] is he?” replied the king [the ruler, monarch]. And Ziba [the servant, attendant] said, “Indeed [behold, truly], he is in Lo-debar [not a pasture, a town in Manasseh] at the house [dwelling place, residence] of Machir [a leader] son [descendant, offspring] of Ammiel [my kinsman is God].” word study 5 So King [the ruler, monarch] David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] had him brought [fetched, taken] from the house [dwelling place, family home] of Machir [an Israelite] son [descendant, offspring] of Ammiel [meaning’my kinsman is God’] in Lo-debar [a town in Palestine, meaning’not a pasture’]. word study 6 And when Mephibosheth [the exterminator of idols, grandson of Saul] son of Jonathan [Jehovah has given], the son of Saul [desired, the first king of Israel], came [approached, drew near] to David [beloved, the youngest son of Jesse], he fell [prostrated, bowed down] facedown [on his face] in reverence [worship, respect]. Then David [the beloved king] said, “Mephibosheth [the son of Jonathan]!” “I am [behold, here is] your servant [slave, bondservant, one who serves],” he replied [answered, responded]. word study 7 “Do not be afraid [fear not, have no fear],” said David, “for surely [certainly, without a doubt] I will show you kindness [mercy, loving-kindness] for the sake of [because of, on account of] your father Jonathan [God has given]. I will restore [return, give back] to you all [every, the whole] the land of your grandfather Saul [the asked for one], and you will always [continually, at all times] eat [dine, have food] at my table [my shulchan, a place of community and provision].” word study 8 Mephibosheth bowed down [in reverence and humility] and said, “What is your servant [a lowly slave, unworthy], that you should show regard [look upon with favor, care for] for a dead dog [a despised and worthless creature] like me [such as I am, in my humble state]?” word study 9 Then the king [the monarch, ruler] summoned [called to come, invited] Saul’s servant [attendant, helper] Ziba and said to him, “I have given [transferred, bestowed] to your master’s [lord, owner] grandson [son’s son, descendant] all that belonged [pertained, was possessed] to Saul [the first king of Israel] and to all his house [family, household, descendants]. word study 10 You [as a servant, in a role of obedience] and your sons [descendants, family members] and servants [slaves, those under your authority] are to work [till, cultivate, serve] the ground [land, earth, soil] for him and bring in [gather, harvest] the harvest, so that your master’s grandson [Mephibosheth, a son of Jonathan] may have food [bread, sustenance, nourishment] to eat. But Mephibosheth [a son of Jonathan, grandson of Saul], your master’s grandson, is always [continually, constantly] to eat [dine, partake] at my table [in my presence, as a guest].” Now Ziba had fifteen [a multitude of] sons and twenty [a large number of] servants. word study 11 And Ziba [a faithful servant] said to the king, “Your servant [one who serves and obeys] will do all that my lord [master, ruler] the king has commanded [given orders, instructed].” So Mephibosheth [one who exterminates idols] ate at David’s table [a place of fellowship and provision] like one of the king’s own sons [a position of privilege and inheritance]. word study 12 And Mephibosheth [grandson of King Saul, exterminating the idol] had a young [small, insignificant] son named Mica [who is like God], and all [every single one] who dwelt [lived, resided] in the house [family, household] of Ziba [statue, servant of Saul] were servants [slaves, bondservants] of Mephibosheth [a man of God]. word study 13 So Mephibosheth [the exterminator of idols] lived [dwelt, resided] in Jerusalem [the city of peace], because he always [continually, at every meal] ate [partook, shared food] at the king’s [royal, sovereign] table [place of communion, fellowship], and he was lame [crippled, physically disabled] in both [two, a pair of] feet [the foundation, the base]. word study