Poole on 2 Samuel 9:1-13: David's Kindness to the House of Saul

Verse 1:[1]  And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may (1 Sam. 18:3; 20:14-17, 42; Prov. 27:10) shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?

And David said, etc.:  David’s wars being ended, he set himself to the administration of justice to all his people, 2 Samuel 8:15; and, amongst others, he minds his just debt and obligation to Jonathan and his family.  Of the house of Saul; he saith not of the house of Jonathan, for he knew not of any son which he had left, and therefore thought his kindness and obligation was to pass to the next of his kindred.  As for Mephibosheth, he was very young and obscure, and possibly concealed by his friends, lest David should cut him off from jealousy of state, as hath been usual among princes in like cases, and therefore was unknown to David, as well he might be, especially when David’s head and hands were full of war with divers and potent enemies, as they had hitherto been.

Verse 2:[2]  And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was (2 Sam. 16:1; 19:17, 29) Ziba.  And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba?  And he said, Thy servant is he.

[There was a servant by the name of Ziba]  He was a Canaanite, for which reason he was not granted his freedom with the death of his master (Vatablus, similarly Josephus and Tostatus in Menochius, Martyr).

A servant; one who had been a servant, and, as it may seem, a steward to Saul.  See below, verse 10.

Verse 3:[3]  And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew (1 Sam. 20:14) the kindness of God unto him?  And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.

[That I might do with him the mercy of God]  That is, either, 1.  Mercy great and extraordinary (Menochius, Tirinus, Vatablus).  2.  Similar to the mercy of God, which embraces the ungrateful, unworthy, and rebellious (Tirinus).  3.  Owed because of God, and the oath of God with Jonathan, 1 Samuel 20; 23 (Tirinus, similarly Martyr).

The kindness of God; either, first, That kindness which I owe him for God’s sake, and by virtue of my oath given to him about it, 1 Samuel 20:14, 15.  But that oath seems only to oblige him to Jonathan’s posterity, and not to any other of Saul’s house.  Or, secondly, Great and eminent kindness.

[Lame in his feet]  That lameness had brought it to pass, that he seemed useless to the kingdom; and there was no suspicion that he was going to aspire to the kingdom (Martyr).

Verse 4:[4]  And the king said unto him, Where is he?  And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of (2 Sam. 17:27) Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.

[In the house of Machir]  A man of the first rank, of the illustrious family of Machir, the son of Manasseh the Patriarch,[5] whom Mephibosheth appear to have sought as a patron and protector, fearing David (Menochius).

In the house of Machir, etc.:  In a place beyond Jordan, 2 Samuel 17:27, where his friends thought he might be kept out of David’s sight.

[In Lo-debar]  It was a city in mount Gilead (Menochius).

Verse 5:[6]  Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.

Verse 6:[7]  Now when Mephibosheth (called Merib-baal, 1 Chron. 8:34[8]), the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence.  And David said, Mephibosheth.  And he answered, Behold thy servant!

Verse 7:[9]  And David said unto him, Fear not:  (2 Sam. 9:1, 3) for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

[I will restore to thee all the fields of Saul (thus Vatablus, Munster), ‎כָּל־שְׂדֵה]  The whole possession, or inheritance (Jonathan in Vatablus, Kimchi in Munster).  This was devoted to the royal exchequer because of the rebellion of Ish-bosheth (Vatablus, thus Grotius, Menochius, Tirinus).  The arbitration of such goods was in the hands of the King (Grotius).  Also, the sons of Rizpah the concubine of Saul[10] seized upon many things for themselves (Munster).  The fields which, before he was made King, he had by paternal inheritance, or had acquired for himself (Lapide).  Saul certainly had flocks of asses, 1 Samuel 9, and fields which he cultivated, 1 Samuel 11, and vineyards and fields, 1 Samuel 22:7, which he was able to give to his servants, which sort David in his poverty was not able to furnish, as Saul there indicated (Sanchez).

All the land of Saul is now seized and possessed by David, as due to him, either in right of his wife, to whom the inheritance was devolved, Saul’s sons by his wives being all dead; see Numbers 27:8; or by Divine donation, as belonging to the crown which God had now given him; or by forfeiture, because of Ish-bosheth’s rebellion against his lord and king.

Verse 8:[11]  And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such (1 Sam. 24:14; 2 Sam. 16:9) a dead dog as I am?

[Thou hast looked upon a dead dog]  That is, if I be compared with thee.  The dog was an unclean animal,[12] and there was no use for a dead dog (Martyr).

A dead dog:  So contemptible in my person and condition.

Verse 9:[13]  Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, (see 2 Sam. 16:4; 19:29) I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.

[I have given unto the son of thy lord]  That is, 1.  to Micah, the son of Mephibosheth[14] (thus Munster, Vatablus, Sanchez, Junius, Mariana).  For it follows, but Mephibosheth shall eat, etc.:  that is to say, Upon thee I place not this care, that thou shouldest feed Mephibosheth, but only that thou sustain his son, Micah (Sanchez).  Or, 2.  Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan (Lapide, Menochius, Willet).

Verse 10:[15]  Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have food to eat:  but Mephibosheth thy master’s son (2 Sam. 9:7, 11, 13; 19:28) shall eat bread alway at my table.  Now Ziba had (2 Sam. 19:17) fifteen sons and twenty servants.

[And thou shalt bring in (thus Vatablus)]  Understanding, its yield into the storehouses (Vatablus).

That thy master’s son may have food to eat, that is, that he may have wherewith to buy food for all his family, and all manner of provisions (which oft come under the title of food and bread) necessary for himself and them.

[Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants]  Question:  How were there so many servants to one a servant himself?  Response:  Formerly there were three degrees and orders of servants:  1.  There were ordinary servants.  2.  Vicars.  3.  Drudges, or the lowliest.  Sometimes it was granted to the more honest servant to have some bit of property of which they might make use, and from which they might profit; and they, if they chose, might also acquire other servants for themselves (Martyr).

Twenty servants:  It is probable he had been the chief steward to manage Saul’s lands; whereby he had great opportunities to enrich himself, which also he was very intent and resolved upon, either directly or indirectly, as the following history of him shows; and therefore it is not strange that he was so rich.

Verse 11:[16]  Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do.  As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.

[Just as thou hast commanded…so shall thy servant do:  And Mephibosheth shall eat upon my table, as one of the sons of the King, ‎וגו״ וּמְפִיבֹשֶׁת]  And Mephibosheth, etc.; that is to say, If it please thee, I shall provide, not for the son alone, but also for the father, concerning all necessities, as if one of the King’s sons; that is, I shall provide splendidly, as it befits the son of a King.  The and is put in the place of indeed, or even indeed (Menochius and Tirinus out of Sanchez).  Should he wish to divert to my place, he shall have honor, like the son of a King (Grotius).  Here, ו/and is put for although (Vatablus).  The copulative conjunction is put for the adversative, as in Genesis 3:2, 3, ‎וּמִפְּרִי, but of the fruit, etc.  Thus in Genesis 18:27, ‎וְאָנֹכִי, although I am dust, etc.; and in Genesis 30:30;[17] 42:10;[18] Zechariah 12:3, ‎וְנֶאֶסְפוּ, although be gathered, etc.  So also in this passage (Glassius’ “Grammar” 688).  Although Mephibosheth should eat, etc. (Pagnine, Vatablus, Glassius, thus Junius and Tremellius, Piscator).  That is to say, Hitherto nothing has been wanting to him:  for I have fed him with royal splendor, just as the sons of Kings are wont to be fed; that is, most sumptuously (Vatablus).  This steward feigns great fidelity, although he was a manifest scoundrel (Osiander).  David had already said in verses 7 and 10, he shall eat at my table.  Meanwhile, Mephibosheth himself was the table companion of Ziba (Vatablus).  [Others translate it otherwise:]  And Mephibosheth was eating (eating[19] [Montanus]) upon the table of David, etc. (Jonathan).  Therefore, Mephibosheth was eating bread upon the table of the King (Syria, similarly the Arabic).  Nevertheless, many maintain that there were not the words of Ziba, but of David.  Therefore, they supply something (Malvenda).  Therefore, or but, Mephibosheth, etc., understanding, said he (Castalio), said the King (Dutch, English, Munster, Tigurinus, Mariana).  Perhaps the first person stands in the place of the second (Mariana).  Some, in the place of my table, read thy table (Tostatus in Lapide).  Others thus harmonize, Mephibosheth shall eat food brought from the table of the king at my table.  But this is opposed in verse 13 (Lapide).

As for Mephibosheth…he shall eat at my table, etc.:  These are the words, either, first, Of David; the words said he, or said the king, being supplied out of the former and following verses.  Or, secondly, Of Ziba, being thus rendered and understood, Also Mephibosheth, if the king so please, shall eat at my table, and shall be treated there according to his quality, as one of thy sons, as thou desirest; for the estate will suffice for that also.

Verse 12:[20]  And Mephibosheth had a young son, (1 Chron. 8:34) whose name was Micha.  And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.

[The whole family of the house, ‎וְכֹל֙ מוֹשַׁ֣ב בֵּית־צִיבָ֔א]  The whole habitation of the house (Montanus, Septuagint, Pagnine), that is, as many as were dwelling in the house (Vatablus).

Mephibosheth had a young son; either, first, Before he was discovered and brought to the king; and then David seems guilty of a great error in forgetting his dear Jonathan so long; although his long and continued wars, both civil and foreign, might afford him some excuse, as filling his mind and time with business of another nature.  Or, secondly, After that time; for there is nothing here which determines when this son was born.  Whose name was Micha; who also had other children and grandchildren, to keep up the name and memory of worthy and famous Jonathan.  See 1 Chronicles 8:34, 35; 9:40, 41.

Verse 13:[21]  So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem:  (2 Sam. 9:7, 10) for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and (2 Sam. 9:3) was lame on both his feet.

[1] Hebrew:  ‎וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֔ד הֲכִ֣י יֶשׁ־ע֔וֹד אֲשֶׁ֥ר נוֹתַ֖ר לְבֵ֣ית שָׁא֑וּל וְאֶעֱשֶׂ֤ה עִמּוֹ֙ חֶ֔סֶד בַּעֲב֖וּר יְהוֹנָתָֽן׃

[2] Hebrew:  ‎וּלְבֵ֙ית שָׁא֥וּל עֶ֙בֶד֙ וּשְׁמ֣וֹ צִיבָ֔א וַיִּקְרְאוּ־ל֖וֹ אֶל־דָּוִ֑ד וַיֹּ֙אמֶר הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ אֵלָ֛יו הַאַתָּ֥ה צִיבָ֖א וַיֹּ֥אמֶר עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃

[3] Hebrew: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ הַאֶ֙פֶס ע֥וֹד אִישׁ֙ לְבֵ֣ית שָׁא֔וּל וְאֶעֱשֶׂ֥ה עִמּ֖וֹ חֶ֣סֶד אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיֹּ֤אמֶר צִיבָא֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ ע֛וֹד בֵּ֥ן לִיהוֹנָתָ֖ן נְכֵ֥ה רַגְלָֽיִם׃

[4] Hebrew:  ‎וַיֹּֽאמֶר־ל֥וֹ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֵיפֹ֣ה ה֑וּא וַיֹּ֤אמֶר צִיבָא֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הִנֵּה־ה֗וּא בֵּ֛ית מָכִ֥יר בֶּן־עַמִּיאֵ֖ל בְּל֥וֹ דְבָֽר׃

[5] See Genesis 50:23; Numbers 32:39, 40.

[6] Hebrew:  ‎וַיִּשְׁלַ֖ח הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֑ד וַיִּקָּחֵ֗הוּ מִבֵּ֛ית מָכִ֥יר בֶּן־עַמִּיאֵ֖ל מִלּ֥וֹ דְבָֽר׃

[7] Hebrew: וַ֠יָּבֹא מְפִיבֹ֙שֶׁת בֶּן־יְהוֹנָתָ֤ן בֶּן־שָׁאוּל֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד וַיִּפֹּ֥ל עַל־פָּנָ֖יו וַיִּשְׁתָּ֑חוּ וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ מְפִיבֹ֔שֶׁת וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הִנֵּ֥ה עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃

[8] 1 Chronicles 8:34:  “And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal (‎מְרִ֣יב בָּ֑עַל); and Merib-baal (‎וּמְרִ֥יב בַּ֖עַל) begat Micah.”

[9] Hebrew:  וַיֹּאמֶר֩ ל֙וֹ דָוִ֜ד אַל־תִּירָ֗א כִּ֣י עָשֹׂה֩ אֶעֱשֶׂ֙ה עִמְּךָ֥ חֶ֙סֶד֙ בַּֽעֲבוּר֙ יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן אָבִ֔יךָ וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֣י לְךָ֔ אֶֽת־כָּל־שְׂדֵ֖ה שָׁא֣וּל אָבִ֑יךָ וְאַתָּ֗ה תֹּ֥אכַל לֶ֛חֶם עַל־שֻׁלְחָנִ֖י תָּמִֽיד׃

[10] 2 Samuel 3:7; 21:8-11.

[11] Hebrew:  ‎וַיִּשְׁתַּ֕חוּ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מֶ֣ה עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּ֣י פָנִ֔יתָ אֶל־הַכֶּ֥לֶב הַמֵּ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר כָּמֽוֹנִי׃

[12] See Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 14; 23:18.

[13] Hebrew:  ‎וַיִּקְרָ֣א הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֶל־צִיבָ֛א נַ֥עַר שָׁא֖וּל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֑יו כֹּל֩ אֲשֶׁ֙ר הָיָ֤ה לְשָׁאוּל֙ וּלְכָל־בֵּית֔וֹ נָתַ֖תִּי לְבֶן־אֲדֹנֶֽיךָ׃

[14] 2 Samuel 9:12; 1 Chronicles 8:34; 9:30.

[15] Hebrew:  ‎וְעָבַ֣דְתָּ לּ֣וֹ אֶֽת־הָאֲדָמָ֡ה אַתָּה֩ וּבָנֶ֙יךָ וַעֲבָדֶ֜יךָ וְהֵבֵ֗אתָ וְהָיָ֙ה לְבֶן־אֲדֹנֶ֤יךָ לֶּ֙חֶם֙ וַאֲכָל֔וֹ וּמְפִיבֹ֙שֶׁת֙ בֶּן־אֲדֹנֶ֔יךָ יֹאכַ֥ל תָּמִ֛יד לֶ֖חֶם עַל־שֻׁלְחָנִ֑י וּלְצִיבָ֗א חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר בָּנִ֖ים וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים עֲבָדִֽים׃

[16] Hebrew: וַיֹּ֤אמֶר צִיבָא֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כְּכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֙ר יְצַוֶּ֜ה אֲדֹנִ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶת־עַבְדּ֔וֹ כֵּ֖ן יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וּמְפִיבֹ֗שֶׁת אֹכֵל֙ עַל־שֻׁלְחָנִ֔י כְּאַחַ֖ד מִבְּנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

[17] Genesis 30:30:  “For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased (‎וַיִּפְרֹץ, but it is increased) unto a multitude; and the Lord hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?”

[18] Genesis 42:10:  “And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but thy servants (‎וַעֲבָדֶיךָ) are come to buy food.”

[19] The Hebrew text has the present active participle.

[20] Hebrew:  ‎וְלִמְפִיבֹ֥שֶׁת בֵּן־קָטָ֖ן וּשְׁמ֣וֹ מִיכָ֑א וְכֹל֙ מוֹשַׁ֣ב בֵּית־צִיבָ֔א עֲבָדִ֖ים לִמְפִיבֹֽשֶׁת׃

[21] Hebrew:  ‎וּמְפִיבֹ֗שֶׁת יֹשֵׁב֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם כִּ֣י עַל־שֻׁלְחַ֥ן הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ תָּמִ֖יד ה֣וּא אֹכֵ֑ל וְה֥וּא פִּסֵּ֖חַ שְׁתֵּ֥י רַגְלָֽיו׃ פ