2 Samuel 9:1-8

David Finds Mephibosheth

9:1 ¹ Then David asked, “Is anyone still left from the family ²  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.” ³  9:3 The king asked, “Is there not someone left from Saul’s family, ⁴  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 ⁵  from the house of Makir son of Ammiel in ⁶  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. ⁷  David said, “Mephibosheth?” He replied, “Yes, at your service.” ⁸ 

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.” ⁹  9:8 Then Mephibosheth ¹⁰  bowed and said, “Of what importance am I, your servant, that you show regard for a dead dog like me?” ¹¹ 

[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.

[9:1]  ² tn Heb “house.”

[9:2]  ³ tn Heb “your servant.”

[9:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “house.”

[9:5]  ⁵ tn Heb “sent and took him.”

[9:5]  ⁶ tn Heb “from.”

[9:6]  ⁷ tn Heb “he fell on his face and bowed down.”

[9:6]  ⁸ tn Heb “Look, your servant.”

[9:7]  ⁹ tn Heb “and you will eat food over my table continually.”

[9:8]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Mephibosheth) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[9:8]  ¹¹ tn Heb “What is your servant, that you turn to a dead dog which is like me?”