Text -- 2 Samuel 9:1-7 (NET)

David Finds Mephibosheth

9:1 Then David asked, “Is anyone still left from the family of Saul, so that I may extend kindness to him for the sake of Jonathan?” 9:2 Now there was a servant from Saul’s house named Ziba, so he was summoned to David. The king asked him, “Are you Ziba?” He replied, “At your service.” 9:3 The king asked, “Is there not someone left from Saul’s family, that I may extend God’s kindness to him?” Ziba said to the king, “One of Jonathan’s sons is left; both of his feet are crippled.” 9:4 The king asked him, “Where is he?” Ziba told the king, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar. 9:5 So King David had him brought from the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar. 9:6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed low with his face toward the ground. David said, “Mephibosheth?” He replied, “Yes, at your service.” 9:7 David said to him, “Don’t be afraid, because I will certainly extend kindness to you for the sake of Jonathan your father. You will be a regular guest at my table.”

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 2Sa 9:1

¹ sn 2 Samuel 9–20 is known as the Succession Narrative. It is a literary unit that describes David’s efforts at consolidating his own kingdom following the demise of King Saul; it also provides the transition to subsequent leadership on the part of David’s successor Solomon.

² tn Heb “house.”

NET Notes: 2Sa 9:2

¹ tn Heb “your servant.”

NET Notes: 2Sa 9:3

¹ tn Heb “house.”

NET Notes: 2Sa 9:5

¹ tn Heb “sent and took him.”

² tn Heb “from.”

NET Notes: 2Sa 9:6

¹ tn Heb “he fell on his face and bowed down.”

² tn Heb “Look, your servant.”

NET Notes: 2Sa 9:7

¹ tn Heb “and you will eat food over my table continually.”