2 Samuel 9:2

_AND THERE WAS OF THE HOUSE OF SAUL A SERVANT WHOSE NAME WAS ZIBA. AND WHEN THEY HAD CALLED HIM UNTO DAVID, THE KING SAID UNTO HIM, ART THOU ZIBA? AND HE SAID, THY SERVANT IS HE._ A servant, whose name was Ziba. On inquiry, Saul's land steward was found, who gave information that there still survived a son of Jonathan, who was five years old at his father's death, and whom David, then wandering in exile, had never seen. His lameness (2 Samuel 4:4) had prevented him from taking any part in the public contests of the time. Besides, according to Oriental notions, the younger son of a crowned monarch has a preferable claim to the sucession over the son of a mere heir-apparent; and hence, his name was never heard of as the rival of his uncle Ish-bosheth. His insignificance had led to his being lost sight of; and it was only through Ziba that David learned his existence, and the r

1-8 Amidst numerous affairs we are apt to forget the gratitude we owe, and the engagements we are under, not only to our friends, but to God himself. Yet persons of real godliness will have no rest till they have discharged them. And the most proper objects of kindness and charity, frequently will not be found without inquiry. Jonathan was David's sworn friend, therefore he shows kindness to his son Mephibosheth. God is faithful to us; let us not be unfaithful to one another. If Providence has raised us, and our friends and their families are brought low, we must look upon that as giving us the fairer opportunity of being kind to them....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 9:1 IS THERE YET ANY THAT IS LEFT OF THE HOUSE OF SAUL? As Mephibosheth was five years old at his father's death (2 Samuel 4:4), but now had a son (2 Samuel 9:12), a sufficient time must have elapsed for him to grow up and marry; so that probably the events of this chapter occurred seventeen or eighteen years after the battle of Gilboa. As David was king at Hebron for seven years and a half, he had been king now of all Israel for about nine years. But during this long period he had been engaged in a weary struggle, which had left him little repose, and during which it might have been dangerous to draw the house of Saul out of obscurity. But he was at

AND [THERE WAS] OF THE HOUSE OF SAUL A SERVANT WHOSE NAME [WAS] ZIBA,.... Or there was a servant that belonged to Saul's family; not that any of Saul's family was a servant; and this servant the Jews commonly say was a Canaanitish servant, and who upon the death of his master was not made free, but became the inheritance and possession of his children after him, Leviticus 25:46; though Josephus n says he was made free by Saul: AND WHEN THEY HAD CALLED HIM UNTO DAVID; who it seems was now at court, or in Jerusalem, on some account or another; or was in David's service, in some inferior post or another; however, having been a quondam servant of Saul, it was thought he could give the best intelligence of his family, and whether any were living, and therefore was sent for; and when he was come into the king's presence, the king said unto him, [art] thou Z

6. DAVID AND MEPHIBOSHETH CHAPTER 9 _ 1. Mephibosheth brought to David (2 Samuel 9:1)_ 2. Grace and mercy shown to him (2 Samuel 9:7) The story of Mephibosheth is the first thing mentioned after the government of David had been fully established. Typically it reveals the gospel in a beautiful way, and dispensationally the kindness of God which will be manifested in the coming kingdom. Mephibosheth is a type of the sinner and the condition which he is in. He was helpless, being lame of both feet. How he became lame is found in 2 Samuel 4:4. He fell and became lame, a helpless cripple. It reminds us of the fall of man and the helpless condition into which sin has put man. Therefore he could not c

2 SAMUEL 9. DAVID SHOWS FAVOUR TO MERI-BAAL (J). David, asking as to survivors of the house of Saul, hears of Meri-baal (2 Samuel 4:4 *); he bestows upon him Saul's private estates, and gives him the status of a royal prince at his court....

4. David's Kindness to the House of Saul, 2 Samuel 9:1-13. _David Seeks Saul's Heirs._ 2 Samuel 9:1-4 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? 2 And _there was_ of the house of Saul a servant whose name _was_ Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, _Art_ thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant _is he._ 3 And 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, _which is_ lame on _his_ feet. 4 And 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,

DAVID AND MEPHIBOSHETH 2 Samuel 9-20 have apparently been taken from a single document, written not long after the events recorded, and with special and unique knowledge of the circumstances of David's court and its life. 1-6. As soon as his wars were over, David remembered his promise to his friend Jonathan, and sends for his son Mephibosheth (or Meribbaal). 7-13. David entertains Mephibosheth at his table, and bestows on him all the property that formerly belonged to Saul....

DAVID, THE GREAT KING OF ISRAEL 2 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 9 DAVID AND MEPHIBOSHETH V1 One day David asked, ‘Is anyone from Saul’s family still alive? If so, I want to be kind to that person because of the promise that I made to Jonathan.’ V2 Now Saul’s family had a servant called Ziba. David’s officials called Ziba to go to David. Then King David asked him, ‘Are you Ziba?’ Ziba replied, ‘Yes, I am your servant.’ V3 David said, ‘Is there anyone still alive in Saul’s family? I want to show him God’

וּ לְ בֵ֨ית שָׁא֥וּל עֶ֨בֶד֙ וּ שְׁמֹ֣ו צִיבָ֔א וַ יִּקְרְאוּ ־לֹ֖ו אֶל ־דָּוִ֑ד וַ...