1 And David said, “Is there still someone left to Saul's house, so I might do with him kindness for Jonathan's sake?” 2 And there was to Saul's house a servant and his name was Ziba, i and they called for him for David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “Your servant.” 3 And the king said, “Is there not yet a man to Saul's house, so I might do with him Gods' kindness?” And Ziba said to the king, “There is yet a son of Jonathan's with crippled feet.” 4 And the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is at Machir's house, son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.” 5 And David, the king, sent and took him from Machir's house, son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.
6 And Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and bowed down. And David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he said, “Behold, your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear. For doing, I will do with you kindness for your father Jonathan's sake, and return to you all your father Saul's field. And you shall eat bread at my table always.” 8 And he bowed down and said, “What is your servant that you turn to the dead dog such as I?”
9 And the king called for Ziba, Saul's young man, and said to him, “All that was Saul's and all that was his house's, I give to your lords' ii son. 10 And you shall work for him the ground, you and your sons and your servants, and you shall bring in. And it shall be for your lords' son bread, and he shall eat it. And Mephibosheth, your lords' son shall eat bread always at my table.” And Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11 And Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so shall your servant do.” “And Mephibosheth shall be eating at my table as one from the king's sons.” 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son and his name was Micha. iii And all who dwelt in Ziba's house were servants to Mephibosheth. 13 And Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate at the king's table always. And he was lame in both his feet.
Translated by Darwin Fish. See original pdf.
- א צבייב) tsiyvâh) “Ziba” - found also in 2 Samuel 9:3-4, 9-12; 16:1-4; 19:17, 29. ^
- יך דנני אד') adoneykhâ) “your lords'” - plural “lords” - see footnote for 1 Samuel 26:15. ^
- 3 אא מבייכ) miykhâ') “Micha” - found also in 1 Chronicles 9:15; Nehemiah 10:11(H12); 11:22. Nehemiah 11:17 “Michah” מבי יכ א ה (miykhâh). ^