2 Samuel 9

₁David asked if there was any one of the descendants of Saul who was still_alive. He said: ‘I want to be good to him as I promised Jonathan.’

₂There was a servant from the family of Saul. His name was Ziba. The people called him and when he came to David, the king asked him: ‘Are you Ziba?’ He said: ‘Yes, what can I do for you?’ ₃The king asked him: ‘Is any one of Saul's descendants still_alive? I want to be good to him because I have promised this before God.’ Ziba told the king: ‘A son of Jonathan is still_alive, but he is crippled and can not walk.’ ₄The king asked Ziba: ‘Where is he?’ Ziba answered the king and said: ‘He is in the town of Lo-Debar in the house of Makir, son of Ammiel.’

₅King David sent servants to bring Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, from the house of Makir, son of Ammiel in Lo-Debar. ₆Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathan, son of Saul. When he came to David, he bowed low with his face to the ground. David said: ‘Mephibosheth.’ And Mephibosheth said: ‘Here I am. What can I do for you?’ ₇David said to him: ‘Do not worry. I want to be good to you. That is what I must do because I promised this to your father Jonathan. I give you all the fields that your grandfather Saul had and you may eat with me every day.’

₈Mephibosheth bowed down and said: ‘Why do you care about me? I am no better than a dead dog.’ ₉The king called Ziba, the servant of Saul, and he said to him: ‘I give everything that Saul and his family had to the son of your master Jonathan. ₁₀You must work for him and farm his fields, you and your sons and your slaves. You must cut the wheat and barley and bring it in with the fruit that you pick. Your master's son must have lots of food to eat. Mephibosheth, the son of your master, must eat with me every day.’ Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants. ₁₁Ziba said to the king: ‘I will do everything that Your_Majesty has told me.’

So Mephibosheth ate at David's table like one of the king's sons. ₁₂Mephibosheth had a young son. His name was Mika. ₁₃Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he ate with the king every day and he was cripple in his legs.