1 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house
of Saul, that I may shew 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 shew 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, in Lodebar.
5 Then
king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel,
from Lodebar.
6 Now
when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David,
he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he
answered, Behold thy servant!
7 And
David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for
Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy
father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
8 And
he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look
upon such a dead dog as I am?
9 Then
the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto
thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.
10 Thou
therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and
thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son
may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway
at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 Then
said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded
his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the
king's sons.
12 And
Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house
of Ziba were servants
unto Mephibosheth.
13 So
Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's
table; and was lame on both his feet.
