2 SAMUEL LESSON 10


     We will begin this lesson in II Samuel 9:1 "And David said, Is
there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him
kindness for Jonathan's sake?"

     At the time of this chapter, it had been somewhere between 15 and
20 years after the battle that Jonathan and Saul died in. David had
made a covenant with Jonathan to watch after his family. All of these
years since the death of Jonathan, David had been extremely busy in
wars and establishing himself as king of all Israel. David is finally
secure in his office as king, and looks for Jonathan's family.

     II Samuel 9:2 "And [there was] of the house of Saul a servant
whose name [was] Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the
king said unto him, [Art] thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant [is
he]."

     Mephibosheth {Jonathan's son} was unknown to David during this
period of time. He had not even known of his birth, much less his
survival, when his father and grandfather were killed. It appears,
that it came to David's attention, that someone who had worked in the
house of Saul, was now with them. David sent for Ziba {Saul's
servant}.  David still had kind feelings toward Saul, Jonathan, and
their tribe.  He, possibly, thought he might help Ziba. David wants to
help all who are left of Jonathan, or Saul.

     II Samuel 9:3 "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."

     David even gave God credit for the kindness in his heart toward
Jonathan and Saul and their descendents. We know this must have been
good news to David, that his best friend had a child that he might
help. He would certainly need the help of David, since he is lame.

     II Samuel 9:4 "And the king said unto him, Where [is] he? And
Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he [is] in the house of Machir, the
son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar."

     Machir, it seemed, had cared for Jonathan in his home. He seemed
to be a wealthy man, who had a very generous heart. Later, we will see
his father, Ammiel, befriend David, when he is having trouble with
Absalom. Lo-deber is, probably, the same as Debir, which is in Gilead
north of the river Jabbok.

     II Samuel 9:5  "Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the
house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar."

     At the time this happened, he would have been glad to come,
because David had become a very famous and powerful king.

     II Samuel 9:6 "Now when Mephibosheth, 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!"

     Mephibosheth had no idea why David had sent for him. It was the
general rule, that the king, who takes the throne, destroys all the
members of the family they replace, to keep them from coming back to
power. Mephibosheth thinks he will be killed. He bows to David to show
he recognizes him as king. He even speaks of himself as the servant of
David, to show he is not trying to take the throne from David. David's
love for Jonathan is, possibly, in the tone of voice he speaks his
son's
name.

     II Samuel 9:7  "And David said unto him, Fear not: 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."

     It was a very high honor to eat at the king's table, and be his
friend. Mephibosheth is certainly relieved, that he is not to be
killed. In his wildest dreams, he never expected to get back his
grandfather's land. This will not please Ziba, because he held some of
this land. David leaves no doubt, the reason he is doing this, is in
memory of his old friend Jonathan.

     II Samuel 9:8 "And he bowed himself, and said, What [is] thy
servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I [am]?"

     Mephibosheth had a very low opinion of himself, it seems. This
could, however, be a way of expressing the difference in the station
of the king and himself. Compared to the king, he was the dog. It,
also, is a very unusual way of saying, thank you. Mephibosheth is very
well aware that this is not deserved, but freely given.

     II Samuel 9:9  "Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and
said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained
to Saul and to all his house."

     This was a very sad day for Ziba. This is a total restoration of
the personal holdings of Saul. Of course, the statement master's son,
actually means grandson. By a few words spoken by David, Mephibosheth
is a rich man with many servants.

     II Samuel 9:10 "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 shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen
sons and twenty servants."

     All of these, are, now, to serve Mephibosheth. He would, now,
live in Jerusalem, as a very rich man. The crops from the land will be
cultivated and harvested by Ziba's sons and servants, and the wealth
from it will belong to Mephibosheth. This does not mean that Ziba's
family will have nothing. It does mean, they will not have it all as
before.

     II Samuel 9:11 "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."

     We see the rank and privilege that went with eating at the kings
table. He is, now, a prince, like all the sons of the king. We see
that David's rule was absolute, because Ziba gave no argument back.

     II Samuel 9:12 "And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name
[was] Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba [were] servants
unto Mephibosheth." II Samuel 9:13 "So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: 
For he did eat continually at the king's table;and was lame on both his 
feet."

     This crippled son of Jonathan had a family. His family lived in
the house of Ziba, and all of Ziba's people were servant to
Mephibosheth.


































                        2 Samuel 10 Questions


1.  What inquiry does David make in verse 1?
2.  How long had it been, since Jonathan had died until this inquiry
    was made?
3.  Why had David not tried to find Jonathan's family earlier?
4.  Who did they find, that had been servant to Saul?
5.  Who was Mephibosheth?
6.  Was David aware that Jonathan had a son, when he called Ziba
    before him?
7.  Why did David inquire of the family of Saul?
8.  Who was the one the servant mentioned?
9.  What physical ailment did he have?
10. Where was this son of Jonathan staying?
11. What does Ammiel do for David later?
12. Where were they living?
13. Why would Mephibosheth not run away, instead of coming to David?
14. What did he do, when he came into David's presence?
15. What are the first two words David says to him?
16. What does David give him?
17. What does he call himself in verse 8?
18. What are some of the possibilities, why he called himself this?
19. Who did David call, to carry out the things David had given
    Mephibosheth?
20. What will happen to Ziba and his family?
21. How many sons did Ziba have?
22. Where shall Mephibosheth eat?
23. What rank goes with eating at the king's table?
24. What was the name of the son of Mephibosheth?