Chapter 9
1 David said, " Is there yet any who is left of Saul ’s house , that I may show him kindness for Jonathan ’s sake ?"
2 There was of Saul ’s house a servant whose name was Ziba , and they called him to David ; and the king said to him , " Are you Ziba ?" He said , " I am your servant ."
3 The king said, " Is there not yet any of Saul ’s house , that I may show the kindness of God to him ?" Ziba said to the king , " Jonathan still has a son , who is lame in his feet ."
4 The king said to him , " Where is he ?" Ziba said to the king , " Behold , he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel , in Lo Debar."
5 Then King David sent and brought him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel , from Lo Debar.
6 Mephibosheth , the son of Jonathan , the son of Saul , came to David , fell on his face , and showed respect . David said, " Mephibosheth ?" He answered, " Behold , your servant !"
7 David said to him , "Don’t be afraid , for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake , and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father. You will eat bread at my table continually ."
8 He bowed down , and said, " What is your servant , that you should look at such a dead dog as I am?"
9 Then the king called to Ziba , Saul ’s servant , and said to him , " All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master ’s son .
10 Till the land for him — you , your sons , and your servants . Bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have bread to eat ; but Mephibosheth your master’s son will always eat bread at my table ." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants .
11 Then Ziba said to the king , " According to all that my lord the king commands his servant , so your servant will do ." So Mephibosheth ate at the king ’s table like one of the king ’s sons .
12 Mephibosheth had a young son , whose name was Mica . All who lived in Ziba ’s house were servants to Mephibosheth .
13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem , for he ate continually at the king ’s table . He was lame in both his feet .