2 Samuel 9:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the king said, "Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?" Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet."

NIV: The king asked, "Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?" Ziba answered the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet."

NASB: Then the king said, 'Is there no one remaining of the house of Saul to whom I could show the kindness of God?' And Ziba said to the king, 'There is still a son of Jonathan, one who is disabled in both feet.'

CSB: So the king asked, "Is there anyone left of Saul’s family that I can show the kindness of God to?" Ziba said to the king, "There is still Jonathan’s son who was injured in both feet."

NLT: The king then asked him, 'Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.' Ziba replied, 'Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Then the king said, “ Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet.”

Second Samuel 9:1–5 describes what happened when David hears that Jonathan has a living son. David asks Saul's former servant, Ziba, if any of Saul's male heirs are still living. Ziba doesn't mention the sons of Saul's concubine or his daughter (2 Samuel 21:8), but he does reveal that Jonathan's son Mephibosheth is still living, although he can't walk. David tells Mephibosheth he will dine at the royal table every day, and tells Ziba to farm Saul's land for his new master (2 Samuel 9:6–13).

In 2 Samuel 9, David keeps his promise to show kindness to Jonathan's children. Mephibosheth is Jonathan's only living son. David brings him to Jerusalem and gives him a place at the king's table as if he were David's own son. In addition, David gives full ownership of Saul's lands to Mephibosheth, telling Saul's servant Ziba that he and his sons now serve Saul's grandson as their new master. Ziba will later tell David Mephibosheth has betrayed him, but it's a lie: Ziba's attempt to keep the land for his own (2 Samuel 16:1–4; 19:24–30).

In 2 Samuel 9, David takes care of Jonathan's last son, as he promised (1 Samuel 20:14–17). David finds Jonathan's son Mephibosheth and invites him to Jerusalem. David gives Mephibosheth Saul's lands and tells Saul's former servant Ziba to farm the estate. In an attempt to keep the land for his own sons, Ziba will tell David that Mephibosheth betrayed him and is trying to regain the crown. When he can, Mephibosheth corrects the lie and rededicates himself to David (2 Samuel 16:1–4; 2 Samuel 19:24–30).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.