# 2 Samuel 09 đź“–: David's Kindness to Mephibosheth
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### David Finds Mephibosheth
[[#Verse 01.]] 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?”
[[#Verse 02.]] 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.”Â
[[#Verse 03.]] 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.”Â
[[#Verse 04.]] The king asked him, “Where is he?” Ziba told the king, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”
[[#Verse 05.]] So King David had him brought from the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.
[[#Verse 06.]] 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.”
[[#Verse 07.]] David said to him, “Don’t be afraid, because I will certainly extend kindness to you for the sake of Jonathan your father. I will give back to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will be a regular guest at my table.”
[[#Verse 08.]] Then Mephibosheth bowed and said, “Of what importance am I, your servant, that you show regard for a dead dog like me?”
[[#Verse 09.]] Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s attendant, and said to him, “Everything that belonged to Saul and to his entire house I hereby give to your master’s grandson.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] You will cultivate the land for him—you and your sons and your servants. You will bring its produce and it will be food for your master’s grandson to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will be a regular guest at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
[[#Verse 11.]] Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do everything that my lord the king has instructed his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth was a regular guest at David’s table, just as though he were one of the king’s sons.
[[#Verse 12.]] Now Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. All the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants.Â
[[#Verse 13.]] Mephibosheth was living in Jerusalem, for he was a regular guest at the king’s table. But both his feet were crippled.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The Hebrew word for kindness (*hesed*) speaks of loyal, covenant love (9:1, 3, 7).
2. David was keeping his covenant promise to Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:14-15).
3. New kings in the ancient Near East often killed the family of the previous dynasty, so Mephibosheth had reason to fear.
4. Mephibosheth lived in Lo Debar (9:4), a name that may mean "no pasture" or "nothing."
5. Lo Debar was east of the Jordan, the region where Saul's family had kept its support.
6. Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants (9:10).
7. Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica (9:12), through whom Saul's family line continued (1 Chronicles 8:34-35).
8. Calling oneself a dead dog (9:8) was strong self-humbling. David used similar words of himself before Saul (1 Samuel 24:14).
9. Eating at the king's table was a sign of honor and protection. Jehoiachin received the same privilege in Babylon (2 Kings 25:29).
10. Mephibosheth's lameness in both feet (9:3, 13) came from the fall described in 4:4.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the King who invites the broken to His table. David showed kindness to Mephibosheth for Jonathan's sake (9:1, 7), and God has shown us kindness in Christ, seating us with Him by grace (Ephesians 2:6-7).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. David went looking for someone to show kindness to (9:1). Who could you look for this week to show kindness?
2. Mephibosheth called himself a dead dog (9:8). How does grace speak to people who feel worthless?
3. Mephibosheth ate at the king's table like one of the king's sons (9:11). How does this picture what God has done for us?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 1: David asks if anyone from Saul's house remains so he can show kindness for Jonathan's sake.
- đź“– verse 7: David restores Saul's land and gives Mephibosheth a place at his table.
- đź“– verse 13: Mephibosheth always eats at the king's table, though he is lame in both feet.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[1 Samuel 20#Verse 14.|1 Samuel 20:14-17]] - David's covenant with Jonathan.
- đź”— [[2 Samuel 04#Verse 04.|2 Samuel 4:4]] - How Mephibosheth became lame.
- đź”— [[Luke 14#Verse 12.|Luke 14:12-14]] - Invite the poor and the lame.
- đź”— [[Ephesians 02#Verse 04.|Ephesians 2:4-7]] - Seated with Christ by grace.
- đź”— [[2 Kings 25#Verse 27.|2 Kings 25:27-30]] - A king given a seat at the royal table.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
📝 SOAP: [[2 Samuel 09 - SOAP|All Are Equal at Our King’s Table]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes