2 Samuel 9
PATof the Jews will have it), he did not recover his liberty with the death of Saul, but still continued in servitude under David. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.’] He was in such an inferior station, that David did not know him; though some among his courtiers did.
2 Samuel 9:1
JjLND David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?. Having ended his wars, and settled his kingdom and court, now he considers what private; obligations he had; especially to the house of Saul, but above all to Jonathan. For he promised Saul, with an oath, that he would not cut off his secd;(l Sam. xxiv. 21; 22.) and had made a covenant of friendship with Jonathan and his posterity for ever; confirmed also by an oath, (1 Sam. xx. 14 —17. 42 % xxiii. 18.)
2 Samuel 9:2
And there was of the house of Saul a servant, tvhose name was Ziba>. He had been employed in some, business in Saul’s family; but being a Canaanitc (as;some
2 Samuel 9:3
And the king said, Is there yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.] Hero David, like a good man, and a worthy friend, and a noble prince, thinks how he may perform his promiso to Jonathan, 1 Sam. xx. 14. where he obliged himself to shew Me kindness of the Lord, that is, great kindness, to his posterity,
2 Samuel 9:4
And the king said unto Jam, Where is lie? And Ziba said, He is in the house ofMachir, the son of Amniiel, in Lo-debar. A place on the other side Jordan, in Mount Gilead, (see xvii. 27.)where, it is likely, his friends thought him safe: being far ifrom David; whom they looked upon as an enemy. (See ver. 7.)
2 Samuel 9:5
Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house ofMachir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. It is likely he sent Ziba to bring him to court, and to assure him of the king’s kindness. Uo Ver. G. Now when Mephibosheth.] Called also Meribfoaal, 1 Chron. viii. 34. ix. 40. Tlie son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come to David, he fell on his face, and did reverence.] As the manner was when men came into the presence of the king, or the king’s son: for thus David himself did to Jonathan, (1 Sam. xx. 41.) And David said unto him, Mephibosheth! And he an* siuered, Behold thy servant. 1 ] The king spake in a very friendly manner to him: and he answered as humbly.
2 Samuel 9:7
And David said unto him, Fear not. This intimates that he had apprehensions David might have an evil eye upon him, as one that had a pretence to the kingdom. * Far I will shew thee kindness for Jonathanthy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father.] Which he had purchased before he was king, or acquired afterward, or was descended to him from his father: but had been confiscated (asD. Kimchi observes) to the king’s exchequer, because Ish-bosheth and the house of Saul had rebelled against David, who was the Lord’s anointed. And accordingly afterward David gave all this land to Ziba, when he accused Mephibosheth of treason against him, xvi. G. (See Selden, de Succession, ad Leges Hebraeorum, cap. 25. fol. 89.) And thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.] As one of his own children, (ver. 11.)
2 Samuel 9:8
And he bowed himself. In token of his thankfulness. And said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?] This is a high expression of his unworthiness of any favour. For a dog was accounted a vile and unclean creature, and a; dead dog was of no use at all. See iii. 8. 1 Sam. xxiv. 15. where David spake thus to Saul, as Helena (Bochart observes). did to Hector. There being no greater expression of humility than this, for one to bo so’abject as to call himself a dog. In like manner, he that calls another so, (as Abishai doth Shimei, and Ulysses doth the wooers, to whom he calls S) kvvcc> Odyss. x.) expresses the utmost contempt of him.
2 Samuel 9:9
Then the king called to Ziba, SauFs servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master’s son all that per iained to Saul, and to all his house.* Some understand by his master’s son the son of Mephibosheth, (called Micab, ver. 12.) because Ziba was not to provide for Mephibosheth himself, who was to be maintained by the king at his royal table. But it may as well be thought to be meant of Mephibosheth, who had this estate given him for such Uses as he should think fit to appoint.
2 Samuel 9:10
Thou therefore, thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruit, that thy master’s son may have food to eat. This may seem to favour what was said before, that he was to “manage the land for the benefit of Micah the son of Mephibosheth and his household, who were to be maintained out of the product of it: but the following words, I think, shew the contrary. f But Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread always at my table.] Now he declares publicly what be had said privately to Mephibosheth. Who’ being the person here plainly called his master’s son (i. f. the son of Jonathan), it inclines me to conclude that he is understood before by that name: whose family was to be maintained by the fruit of the estate that David gave him, though he himself was to eat always with David. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.] Who were sufficient to manage a very great estate.
2 Samuel 9:11
Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so will thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, asoneofthe king’s sons.] Those words, said the king, are not in the original text: so that these words may be thought to be Ziba’s: who said he would keep a table for Mephibosheth also, if David pleased, and entertain him royally, the land being sufficient to afford it. But I do not see how he could call it my table; which must be the language of David: w r ho now repeated what he had said before, that Ziba should take no care of Mephibosheth.
2 Samuel 9:12
And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micah. Who had many, sons, from whom issued a nu merous progeny, which lasted many generations, (1 Chron. viii. 34, 35, &c. ix. 40, 41, &c.) And all that dwelt in tlie house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.] And consequently accountable to him for all that they received out of the estate: which, it appears by this, was settled upon him.
2 Samuel 9:13
So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem. Ziba went to take care of his land, which was at Gibeah of Benjamin, but Mephibosheth stayed with the king, that hemight partake of his bounty. For he did eat bread continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.] Though he could not go, yet he was carried thither; for so the words may be translated, though he was’Jame, &c. This defect and blemish did not hinder him from being entertained by the king with the greatest kindness: which procured him, though despicable in his person, honour from the people, as one in great favour with their king.;