2 Samuel 9

Chap. IX. Ver. 1—13. David rewards Mephibosheth for the kindness of his father Jonathan.—This short chapter seems scarcely to require either note or comment; yet we ‘must not omit to remark the pleasing instance it affords of David’s gratitude to his royal friend Jonathan, the son of Saul: it may, indeed, be objected, that his kindness to Mephibosheth was long delayed, for though he was a child when his father died, it should seem that about this time he became himself a father. In excuse for this delay, however, it may be pleaded, that David had been fully occupied; and it was not probably till he accidentally met with Ziba, that he had the opportunity to gain any information respecting him, as he appears to have been brought up in obscurity on the other side of Jordan, and was perhaps in fear of being known as a relic of the unfortunate house of Saul.

David, however, no sooner found him out, than he appointed him a place at his table among the king’s sons, restored him the family estate, of which it appears that he had been deprived, and made his father’s former servant, Ziba, to be the steward and bailiff of that estate. Thus David showed that he was not insensible to the claims of gratitude, nor had forgotten his vows to Jonathan. While this is commendatory to David, it may reprove us for the neglect of our repeated vows to that “Friend who sticketh closer than a brother!”

Notes on the verses

Chap. IX. Ver. 3. The kindness of God.—{That is, the highest act of kindness; as the hill of God is very high, exceeding the mountains exceeding high mountains; besides which, this kindness was according to the covenant of God made between him and Jonathan.}—Bagster.