2 Samuel 16:3

_AND THE KING SAID, AND WHERE IS THY MASTER'S SON? AND ZIBA SAID UNTO THE KING, BEHOLD, HE ABIDETH AT JERUSALEM: FOR HE SAID, TO DAY SHALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL RESTORE ME THE KINGDOM OF MY FATHER._ Today shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. Such a hope might not unnaturally arise at this period of civil distraction, that the family of David would destroy themselves by their mutual broils, and the people reinstate the old dynasty. There was an air of plausibility in Ziba's story. Many on whom the king had conferred favours were now deserting him; no wonder therefore, that in the excitement of momentary feeling, believing, on the report of a slanderer, Mephibosheth to be among the number of the rebels, he pronounced a rash and unrighteous judgment, by which a great injury was inflicted on the character and interests of a devoted friend....

1-4 Ziba belied Mephibosheth. Great men ought always to be jealous of flatterers, and to be careful that they hear both sides....

Verse 2 Samuel 16:3. _TO-DAY SHALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL_] What a base wretch was Ziba! and how unfounded was this accusation against the peaceable, loyal and innocent Mephibosheth!...

THY MASTER’S SON - Meaning Saul’s grandson 2 Samuel 9:6. David asks the question, evidently hurt at the apparent ingratitude of Mephibosheth. It is impossible to say whether Mephibosheth was quite guiltless or not. If Psalms 116 was composed by David, and after the quelling of Absalom’s rebellion, 2 Samuel 16:11 may contain David’s confession of his present hasty judgment 2 Samuel 16:4 in the matter....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 16:1 ZIBA THE SERVANT OF MEPHIBOSHETH. It is the misfortune of troubled times like those in which David found himself, that unscrupulous men use them for selfish purposes. For those in danger have no time for careful examination, nor are their minds sufficiently calm for impartial judgment, but they act on first impressions, and catch at every straw. Ziba's present would naturally raise everybody's spirits, and be taken as a good omen; for it showed that David had adherents in unlikely quarters, when thus a servant of the house of Saul of his own accord brought so timely an offering. The asses saddled for riding contradict the idea that Ziba met David by chance as he was bringing the produce of the farm for the use of Mephibosheth's household. More probably the asses had been saddled for Mephibosheth's own use, and

AND THE KING SAID, AND WHERE [IS] THY MASTER'S SON?.... The son of Saul, who was Ziba's master, meaning Mephibosheth: AND ZIBA SAID UNTO THE KING, BEHOLD, HE ABIDETH AT JERUSALEM; as there was reason for it, since he was lame of both his feet, 2 Samuel 9:13, though he could have rode upon an ass, and followed the king, as he proposed to do; but his servant deceived him, and carried off the asses to serve a purpose for himself, see 2 Samuel 19:26; FOR HE SAID, TODAY SHALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL RESTORE UNTO ME THE KINGDOM OF MY FATHER; his father Saul; which was far from his thoughts; and a most wicked suggestion of his servant to blacken his character, and get his estate from him; nor was there the least probability of the kingdom coming to him, but all the reverse;

6. THE SORROWS AND TESTINGS OF THE KING CHAPTER 16 _ 1. Lying Ziba (2 Samuel 16:1)_ 2. Shimei curses and stones David (2 Samuel 16:5) 3. Absalom enters Jerusalem (2 Samuel 16:15) 4. Ahitophel's wicked counsel (2 Samuel 16:20) Ziba in great craftiness meets the exiled king with provisions and acts as the false accuser of Mephibosheth. And David hastily puts all that belongs to Mephibosheth into his hands. Strange that David could believe in the falsehood of Ziba. How could one who was a helpless cripple aspire to possess a kingdom? Mephibosheth had been deceived ...

Soon after passing the summit of the Mt. of Olives David is met by Ziba, the servant of Meri-baal (2 Samuel 4:4), with a present of two asses laden with provisions. Ziba, representing that Meri-baal has turned traitor, obtains a grant of his property. 2 SAMUEL 16:5. At Bahurim, somewhere on the way to the Jordan, Shimei, a kinsman of Saul, follows David, uttering curses and throwing stones. David refuses to retaliate, feeling that his sufferings may move Yahweh to pity him. 2 SAMUEL 16:14. It is probable that the name of some place has dropped out. 1 Samuel 16:15 to...

HE SAID. This was slander. See 2 Samuel 19:24, and compare the two Structures....

_thy master's son_ Mephibosheth is called the son, i.e. grandson, of Ziba's lord Saul in ch. 2 Samuel 9:9. David was hurt by Mephibosheth's apparent ingratitude. _for he said, To day_, &c. That Ziba was calumniating Mephibosheth is sufficiently obvious. How could Mephibosheth, an insignificant cripple, who had never claimed the crown, or taken any part in politics, expect to be made king, even in the confusion of parties which might ensue upon Absalom's rebellion? Ziba's story was an audacious fiction, invented in the hope of getting a grant of the estate which he was cultivating for Mephibosheth's benefit, and in spite of its improbability, it passed muster in the haste and confusion of the moment....