Crippled by a fall, 2Sa 4:4; eat at royal table, 2Sa 9:1-13; betrayed by his servant Ziba, 2Sa 16:1-4; defends himself against David, 2Sa 19:24-30.
Mephi-bosheth (Heb. Me fîbôsheth, possibly “he who spreads shame”). 1. Son of Jonathan. His original name seems to have been Merib-baal.* A reaction against names containing the expression Baal among the Hebrews was probably the reason for his name change to Mephibosheth. He was only 5 years old when his father and grandfather died in the Battle of Gilboa. When news of this catastrophe reached the court, his maid took him and fled, but in his flight he fell and was paralyzed for life (2Sa 4:4). For a time he lived in Transjordan, in Lodebar, but when David learned of his whereabouts, he brought him to Jerusalem, and in remembrance of his friendship with the boy’s father made him a member of the court. He also returned Saul’s and Jonathan’s estates to him and placed them under the management of Ziba, Saul’s former steward (9:3-13). During Absalom’s rebellion, Mephibosheth remained in Jerusalem and was accused by Ziba of having joined the rebellion. Consequently, David gave her all her master’s property to him (16:1-4). Upon David’s return, Mephibosheth defended his innocence, and half of his property was returned to him (19:24-30). When 7 of Saul’s descendants were executed to avenge the unjustified massacre of the Gibeonites, David protected Mephibosheth out of love for Jonathan (21:7). Mephibosheth had a son, Micah, through whom he continued Saul’s family (2Sa 9:12; 1Ch 8:34-40; 9:40-44). 2. Son of King Saul and Rizpah, the daughter of Aja. He was one of those executed at the demand of the Gibeonites for Saul’s crime against them (2Sa 21:8, 9).
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
Name of people from the OT.
1. Son of Saul with his concubine †¢Rizpah. David handed him over, along with his brother † ¢ Armoni and several grandsons of Saul to the Gibeonites, who hanged them (2Sa 21: 8-14).
. Son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul. He was also called †¢ Meri-baal (1Ch 8:34; 1Ch 9:40). He was entitled to be heir to the house of Saul (2Sa 9: 1-7). † œHe was five years old when the news of the death of Saul and Jonathan came…, and his nurse took him and fled †, but M. fell and suffered a fracture that left him lame (2Sa 4: 4 ). After David came to the throne, he treated M. with deference, restoring his family lands to him and making him a permanent guest at his table (2Sa 9: 1-7). He did not sentence him to death with Saul’s sons and his concubine Rizpah (2Sa 21:7-8). In this way David fulfilled the covenant he had made with Jonathan (1Sa 20:15, 1Sa 20:42). It can even be thought that David was also fulfilling the promise he swore to Saul that he would not completely extinguish his family (1Sa 24:20-22). When the revolt of Absalom M. did not adhere to it. His servant Siba tried to give the impression that M. had harbored the hope of achieving the throne because of Absalom’s revolt and that was why he had not left Jerusalem with David, but when David returned he did not believe all of Siba’s version, but of anyway he divided the lands of M. with his servant (2Sa 16:1-4; 2Sa 19:24-30). Many Jewish teachers have commented negatively on David’s decision.
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
tip, BIOG HOMB HOAT
see, DAVID, JONATHY N, SAUL, SHIBA
vet, = “he who destroys shame” (ie, idols). (a) Son of Saul and Rizpah, daughter of Acha. Executed at the request of the Gibeonites (2 Sam. 21:8, 9). (b) Son of Jonathan. He was five years old when his father and grandfather died at the Battle of Gilboa. Terrified at this news, his nurse took him and, fleeing from him, he fell, so that he was crippled in both feet (2 Sam. 4: 4). Mephibosheth went on to live in Lodebar, east of the Jordan. Wanting to testify goodwill to Jonathan in remembrance, David summoned him to court, handed over Saul’s possessions, and gave him a seat at the royal table (2 Sam. 9:1-13). During Absalom’s revolt, this prince stayed in Jerusalem, and his servant Ziba accused him of treason. David believed it, and gave the lands of Mephibosheth to Ziba. After David returned to Jerusalem, Jonathan’s son tried to apologize. David gave him half of his domain; Mephibosheth claimed that he wanted nothing more than the return of the king (2 Sam. 16:1-4; 19:24-30). Micah, son of Mephibosheth, perpetuated his dynasty (2 Sam. 9:12). In 1 Chron. 8:34; 9:40, Mephibosheth is named after Merib-baal, which means “the Lord fights” or, perhaps, “fighter against Baal.” It is possible that originally the name of Jonathan’s son was Merib-baal, but that later the name “baal” (lord) became execrable because of the idolatry that this name evoked, and later this component of the name was changed to ” boset” (shame). David returned to save Mephibosheth again for Jonathan’s sake, when the revenge demanded by the Gibeonites was executed (2 Sam. 21:7). (See DAVID, JONATÍ N, SAÚL, SIBA.)
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
The original form of this name may have been Merib-baal, perhaps *“Baal is a lawyer” (1 Chr. 8.34; 9.40a), or Merib-baal, “hero of Saal” (1 Chr. 9.40b). In the Lucian recension of the LXX (except in 2 Sam. 21.8) the form is Menphibaal, perhaps “who breaks Baal in pieces” (cf. Dt. 32.26). This transitional form was further modified, perhaps, by the replacement of ba˓al by bōšeṯ‘shame’ (cf. Is-bosheth, Jerubeset in 2 Sam. 11.21, and in the LXX “prophets of shame” instead of “prophets of Baal”, in 1 Kings 18:19, 25). See BDB; Smith, ICC, Samuel, 1899, p. 284–285; SR Driver, Notes on the Hebrew Text of the Books of Samuel², 1913, pp. 253–255 with references. On the other hand, Mephibosheth and Merib-baal may have been alternative names (* Ish-bosheth).
There were two men with this name. 1. Son of Jonathan, and this son of Saul. When these were killed, Mephibosheth was five years old, and lame due to an accident that occurred when he was fleeing with his nurse (2 Sam. 4.4). David spared his life, assigned him a place of honor in the royal court, out of love for Jonathan, and provided one of Saul’s slaves, named Ziba, to attend him (2 Sam. 9; 21.7). Ziba’s betrayal, and Mephibosheth’s reconciliation with David at the time of Absalom’s rebellion, are recounted in 2 Samuel 16:1–6; 19.24–30. 2. Son of Saul and his concubine Rizpah. He was among those executed by the Gibeonites to atone for Saul’s slaughter (2 Sam. 21.8).
Bibliography. G. Auzou, The dance before the ark, 1971; S. Plans, “Mephibosheth”, °EBDM, t
AG
Douglas, J. (2000). New Biblical Dictionary: First Edition. Miami: United Bible Societies.
Source: New Bible Dictionary