---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  2 Samuel 9"
description: "CHAPTER 9   :-. DAVID SENDS
FOR MEPHIBOSHETH. 1-7. David said, Is there yet any
that is left of the house of Saul—On inquiry, Saul"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/2-samuel/9"
---

CHAPTER 9

. DAVID SENDS
FOR MEPHIBOSHETH.

**1-7. David said, Is there yet any
that is left of the house of Saul**—On inquiry, Saul's land
steward was found, who gave information that there still survived
Mephibosheth, a son of Jonathan who was five years old at his
father's death, and whom David, then wandering in exile, had never
seen. His lameness ([2 Samuel 4:4](../../../kjv/2-samuel/4/4)) had
prevented him from taking any part in the public contests of the
time. Besides, according to Oriental notions, the younger son of a
crowned monarch has a preferable claim to the succession over the son
of a mere heir-apparent; and hence his name was never heard of as the
rival of his uncle Ish-bosheth. His insignificance had led to his
being lost sight of, and it was only through Ziba that David learned
of his existence, and the retired life he passed with one of the
great families in trans-jordanic Canaan who remained attached to the
fallen dynasty. Mephibosheth was invited to court, and a place at the
royal table on public days was assigned him, as is still the custom
with Eastern monarchs. Saul's family estate, which had fallen to
David in right of his wife ([2 Samuel 4:4](../../../kjv/2-samuel/4/4)), or been forfeited to the crown by Ish-bosheth's rebellion
([2 Samuel 12:8](../../../kjv/2-samuel/12/8)), was provided ([2 Samuel 12:8](../../../kjv/2-samuel/12/8); also [2 Samuel 19:28](../../../kjv/2-samuel/19/28)), for
enabling Mephibosheth to maintain an establishment suitable to his
rank, and Ziba appointed steward to manage it, on the condition of
receiving one-half of the produce in remuneration for his labor and
expense, while the other moiety was to be paid as rent to the owner
of the land ([2 Samuel 19:29](../../../kjv/2-samuel/19/29)).

**10. Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty
servants**—The mention of his sons and the slaves in his house
was to show that Mephibosheth would be honored with an equipage "as
one of the king's sons."

**12. Mephibosheth had a young son,
whose name was Micah**—Whether born before or after his residence
in Jerusalem, cannot be ascertained. But through him the name and
memory of the excellent Jonathan was preserved (see [1 Chronicles 8:34](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/8/34);
[1 Chronicles 8:35](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/8/35); [1 Chronicles 9:40](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/9/40);
[1 Chronicles 9:41](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/9/41)).

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