1And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul , that I may show him kindness for Jonathan ’s sake ? 2And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba , and they called him unto David ; and the king said unto him , Art thou Ziba ? And he said , Thy servant is he . 3And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul , that I may show the kindness of God unto him ? And Ziba said unto the king , Jonathan hath yet a son , who is lame of his feet . 4And the king said unto him , Where is he ? And Ziba said unto the king , Behold , he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel , in Lo-debar . 5Then king David sent , and fetched him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel , from Lo-debar .
Mephibosheth's Humility and David's Generosity
6And Mephibosheth , the son of Jonathan , the son of Saul , came unto David , and fell on his face , and did obeisance . And David said, Mephibosheth . And he answered, Behold , thy servant ! 7And David said unto him , Fear not ; for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake , and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually . 8And he did obeisance , and said, What is thy servant , that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? 9Then the king called to Ziba , Saul ’s servant , and said unto him , All that pertained to Saul and to all his house have I given unto thy master ’s son . 10And thou shalt till the land for him , thou , and thy sons , and thy servants ; and thou shalt bring in the fruits , that thy master’s son may have bread to eat : but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table . Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants .
The Ongoing Relationship
11Then said Ziba unto the king , According to all that my lord the king commandeth his servant , so shall thy servant do . As for Mephibosheth , said the king , he shall eat at my table , as one of the king ’s sons . 12And Mephibosheth had a young son , whose name was Mica . And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth . 13So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem ; for he did eat continually at the king ’s table . And he was lame in both his feet .