Then David asked, “Is there still anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
to whom I show mercy. 2Sa 1:26; 1Sa 18:1-4; 1Sa 20:14-17, 1Sa 20:42; 1Sa 23:16-18; 1Ki 2:7; Pro 27:10; Matt 10:42; Matt 25:40; Tue 9:41; Joh 19:26, Joh 19:27; Phil 1:9-12; 1Pe 3:8.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
David through Ziba sends for Mephibosheth, 2Sa 9:1-6.
Because of Jonathan he restores to him all that was Saul’s, 2Sa 9:7-8.
makes Ziba his husbandman, 2Sa 9:9-13.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
David demonstrates his loyalty to Jonathan (1Sa 20:42) by tending to the physical needs of his crippled son, Mephibosheth. This incident must have occurred at least fifteen years after Jonathan’s death, for Mephibosheth was five years old at the time (2Sa 4:4) and now had a young son.
Source: New Illustrated Caribbean Bible Commentary
for Jonathan’s sake: David and Jonathan entered into a pact of friendship and protection that extended to their descendants (1Sa 18:3, 1Sa 18:4; 1Sa 20:14, 1Sa 20:15, 1Sa 20:42).
Source: New Illustrated Caribbean Bible Commentary
DO ME MERCY FOR LOVE OF JONATÁN. The cap. 2Sa 9:1-13 tells how David kept his promise to his close friend, Jonathan. Years earlier David had made a pact with Jonathan that he would always show kindness to his family (1Sa 20:11-23). Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan (vv. 2Sa 9:3; 2Sa 9:6; see 2Sa 4:4). This is the first of two recorded acts of kindness by David (cf. 2Sa 10:1-5). David’s remarkable kindness stands in sharp contrast to the two acts of wickedness (adultery and murder) that immediately follow (2Sa 11:1-27).
Source: Full Life Study Bible
Mephibaal in the palace (9:1-13).
1 David asked: “Is there still any of the house of Saul whom I can favor for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 There was a servant of the house of Saúl, of name Ziba; So they summoned David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He replied: “Your servant.” 3 The king asked him, “Is there no one left from the house of Saul to whom I can show mercy to God?” Ziba replied to the king: “There is still a son of Jonathan, who is crippled in both feet.” 4 “Where is he?” asked the king; and Ziba answered: “He is in the house of Machir, son of Ammiel, in Lodabar.” 5King David sent for him from the house of Machir son of Ammiel, to Lodabar; 6and when Mephibaal, son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David, he fell on his face, prostrating himself, and David said to him, “Mephibaal.” He replied, “Here is your servant.” 7 David said to him, “Fear nothing, for I want to favor you for the love of Jonathan your father. I will restore to you all the lands of Saul, your father, and you will always eat at my table.” 8 He prostrated himself and said, “What is your servant that you set your sights on a dead dog like me?” 9 The king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belongs to Saul and to all his household, I give to your master’s son. 10 You will cultivate the land for him, you, your sons and your servants, and you will bring him the harvest, so that your master’s house will have something to live on, and Mephibaal, your master, will always eat at my table. Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants; 11 and he said to the king: “Everything will be done as the king, my lord, commands his servant.” Mephibaal ate at David’s table, as one of the king’s sons. 12Mephibaal had a little son, whose name was Mica, and all who lived in the house of Ziba were Mephibaal’s servants; 13but he lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.
As a political measure, David favored Saul’s entire family. Learning that a son of Jonathan survived, he summoned him to the palace, where he treated him as his own son, thus fulfilling the promise he made to his great friend and confidant (1Sa 18: 3; 1Sa 20:14) . At the service of Mephibaal was Siba, who had taken deep roots in Saul’s house, where she came to occupy an important position. He will be spoken of again in 16:1-4; 19:18-30. Jonathan’s son, unable to walk (4:4), resided in Machir’s house (17:27), in Lodabar, a locality that corresponds to Lidbir (Jos 13:26), in Umm ed-Dahar, in Transjordan, at about fourteen kilometers south of Lake Genesaret (Abel, Géographie II 304). Mefibaal had a young child, named Mica, by whom the posterity of Jonathan will be continued (1Ch 8:35). David was generous towards the poor, giving him all the goods of Saul, considering him as a prince of royal blood and seating him at his table as one more son. At the same time, David had close to a character of royal blood, from the family of Saul, that the northern tribes, always suspicious of the favor granted to Judah, could use as a banner to form a separate kingdom.
Source: Annotated Bible
to whom I show mercy for Jonathan’s sake. David continued to show loving loyalty to Jonathan (1Sa 20:42) ministering to the physical needs of his handicapped son Mephibosheth (cp. 2Sa 4:4).
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
These chapters begin with “the house of Saul” (2Sa 9:1) and end with “Sheba … man of Benjamin” (2Sa 20:1). As in the case of Saul, David appears as a failed king, albeit a repentant failure. It was only the grace and mercy of the Lord and his irrevocable covenant with David that preserved David from being excluded from the throne as Saul had been (cf. 2Sa 7:15). The emphasis in this section is on David’s troubles, troubles that came upon him because of his own sin.
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
— in memory of Jonathan: This expression (see 2Sa 9:7) sums up the meaning of the episode and refers to the pact between David and Jonathan (see 1Sa 20:15-16 and note).
Source: Hispano-American Interdenominational Translation
1Sa 20:14-15.
Source: Hispano-American Interdenominational Translation
David and Mephibosheth
Mephibosheth has already been mentioned in 4:4. He was one of the few survivors of Saul’s family after Ishbosheth’s murder. His city, Lo-debar, was near Mahanaim, the capital of Ishbosheth. David now brought him to Jerusalem. Some scholars have surmised that David viewed him as a possible danger and that he brought him to Jerusalem in order to observe his activities. If so, the biblical writer gives no indication. The emphasis is rather on David’s kindness, and on the position of honor he bestowed on Mephibosheth. David was fulfilling his promise to Jonathan, father of Mephibosheth (1 Sam. 20:42), not only with Mephibosheth but also his son Micah as (12) after him. Twice the chapter reminds us that he was crippled in both feet, thus emphasizing his helplessness. It is doubtful that he could ever have been an effective rival to David, despite Ziba’s accusation later (16:3).
Source: New Twenty-First Century Biblical Commentary
9.1ff Most kings in David’s day tried to destroy the families of their rivals to prevent their descendants from coming to the throne. But David showed generosity to Mephibosheth, whose father was Prince Jonathan and whose grandfather was King Saul. David was generous, in part because of his loyalty to the previous God-anointed king (see note at 1Sa 24:5-6); partly for political reasons, to unify Judah and Israel (see notes at 3.13, 14 and 3.29) and mainly because of his vow to treat all of Jonathan’s descendants generously (1Sa 20:14-17).9.3 The reason why Mephibosheth became crippled is recorded in 4.4. Mephibosheth was five years old when Saul and Jonathan died.9.5, 6 Mephibosheth was afraid to visit the king, who wanted to treat him like a prince. Although he feared for his life, and he may have felt unworthy, that did not mean that he should refuse David’s gifts. When God mercifully offers us forgiveness for our sins and a place in heaven, we may feel unworthy, but we will receive those gifts if we just accept them. An even warmer reception than David gave Mephibosheth awaits all of us who are willing to receive God’s gifts by trusting in Jesus Christ, not because we deserve it but because it is God’s promise (Eph 2:8- 9).9.7 His treatment of Mephibosheth shows David’s integrity as a leader who accepted the obligation to provide love and mercy. His generous provision for Jonathan’s son goes beyond any political benefit he may have received. Is he willing to forgive those who have wronged him? Can he be generous to those less worthy? Every time we show compassion, our character is strengthened. COVENANTS A covenant is a legal obligation (promise). Throughout history, God has made covenants with his people. He would keep his Word if they kept theirs. Here we have seven covenants that we find in the Bible. Edenic – In Eden Genesis 3.15 – Satan and humanity will be enemies – Birth painNoah Gen 9:8-17- God would never again destroy the earth with a flood – RainbowAbraham Gen 15:12-21; Gen 17:1-14- Abraham’s descendants would become a great nation if they – Obeyed God. God would be their God forever – Smoking furnace and flaming torch On Mount Sinai Exodus 19.5, 6 – Israel would be God’s chosen people, a holy nation. But he should keep his part of the covenant: obedience – The Exodus Priesthood Num 25:10-13- Aaron’s descendants would be priests forever – Aaron’s priesthoodDavid 2Sa 7:13; 23.5 – Salvation would come through the line of David through the birth of the Messiah – The line of David continued, and the Messiah was born as a descendant of DavidNew covenant Heb 8:6-13- Forgiveness and salvation are available through of faith in Christ – The Resurrection of Christ
Source: Daily Living Bible Commentaries
CROSS-REFERENCES
at 440 Pro 19:22; Mic 6:8; Zech 7:9
b 441 1Sa 18:3; 1Sa 20:15; 1Sa 20:42; pro 17:17
Source: New World Translation
kindness for Jonathan’s sake. Here goodness (Heb., chesed) means covenant loyalty. This refers to David’s covenant with Jonathan (1 Sam 20:14–17, 42).
Source: The Bible of the Americas
mercy. Loyal love (Heb., hesed, here and in v. 2Sa 9:3; see note on Hos 2:19). David exhibited covenant loyalty (1Sa 20:42) towards Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s crippled son, by giving him back his property and providing for his physical needs, thus giving a beautiful illustration of grace.
Source: Ryrie Annotated Study Bible
*1Sa 18:3
Source: Latin American Bible Notes
From chapter 9 to the end of chapter 20, the text constitutes a historical document written in the court of David and that answers the question: Who will be David’s successor? 2 Sam 9-20. David’s fidelity to Saul and friendship with Jonathan subsist.