2 Samuel 9

¹ David asked, 'Is there anyone belonging to Saul's family left, to whom I might show faithful love forJonathan's sake?'

² Now Saul's family had a servant whose name was Ziba. When he had been summoned to David, theking said, 'Are you Ziba?' 'At your service,' he replied.

³ The king said, 'Is there no one left, belonging to Saul's family, for me to treat with God's own faithfullove?' Ziba said to the king, 'There is stil one of Jonathan's sons. He has crippled feet.'

⁴ The king asked 'Where is he?' Ziba replied, 'He is living in the household of Machir son of Ammiel, atLo-Debar.'

⁵ So King David sent for him to be fetched from the house of Machir son of Ammiel at Lo-Debar.

⁶ On entering David's presence, Meribbaal son of Jonathan, son of Saul, fel on his face and prostratedhimself. David said, 'Meribbaal!' He replied, 'Here I am, at your service.'

⁷ David then said, 'Do not be afraid; I wil indeed treat you with faithful love for your father Jonathan'ssake. I shal restore all your grandfather Saul's estates to you, and you will always eat at my table.'

⁸ Meribbaal prostrated himself and said, 'Who is your servant, for you to show favour to a dead dog likeme?'

⁹ The king then summoned Saul's servant Ziba and said, 'Everything belonging to Saul and his family, Igive to your master's son.

¹⁰ You must work the land for him, you and your sons and your slaves; you must harvest the produce toprovide food for your master's family to eat. But Meribbaal, your master's son, wil always take his own meals atmy table.' Now, Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty slaves.

¹¹ Ziba said to the king, 'Your servant wil do everything my lord the king has ordered his servant.' SoMeribbaal ate at David's table like one of the king's sons.

¹² Meribbaal had a young son whose name was Micha. Al the people living in Ziba's household enteredMeribbaal's service.

¹³ Meribbaal lived in Jerusalem, since he always ate at the king's table. He was crippled in both feet.