Year of the Bible
2 Samuel 9
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Commentary on the Second Book of Samuel, Chapter 9:
David had promised to care for those of Saul’s household (1 Samuel 24:21-22), and there is one grandson alive who is also the son of David’s best friend, Jonathan. This man is named Mephibosheth and, although he could be heir to the throne of Saul that David now has, Mephibosheth is lame. In the ancient world, this leaves him unfit to be king. In actions that illustrate the good shepherd of Psalm 23, David protects and provisions Mephibosheth and allows him to dine at the royal household like one of David’s own sons.
The Second Book of Samuel, Chapter 9:
David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
1 And David said, “Is there still any one left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “Your servant is he.” 3 And the king said, “Is there not still some one of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. 6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face and did obeisance. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear; for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father; and you shall eat at my table always.” 8 And he did obeisance, and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon a dead dog such as I?”
9 Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s son. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him, and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s son may have bread to eat; but Mephibosheth your master’s son shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’sy table, like one of the king’s sons. 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who dwelt in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem; for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
David again shows graciousness toward the one remaining descendant of Saul. To whom is God calling me to exemplify similar deference and gentleness?
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan. Join a Catholic Biblical School of Michigan class this September at Holy Family in Grand Blanc, or online.
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
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1 Dijo David:
–¿Queda todavía alguien de la
casa de Saúl? Tendré misericordia con
él por causa de Jonatán.
2 Quedaba, en efecto, un sirviente de
la casa de Saúl llamado Sibá. El rey le
hizo llamar y le dijo:
–¿Eres tú Sibá?
Él contestó:
–Yo soy tu siervo.
3 El rey insistió:
–¿Queda alguien aún de la casa de
Saúl? Me portaré con él con misericordia
divina.
Sibá respondió al rey:
–Queda un hijo de Jonatán, tullido
de ambos pies.
4 –¿Dónde está? –preguntó el rey.
Sibá respondió:
–Está en casa de Maquir, hijo de
Amiel, en Lo-Debar.
El rey David mandó que se lo trajesen
de casa de Maquir, hijo de Amiel,
en Lo-Debar.
6 Cuando Meribaal, hijo de Jonatán,
hijo de Saúl, llegó ante David, se postró
rostro en tierra ante él. Y David le dijo:
–¡Meribaal!
Él respondió:
–Aquí está tu siervo.
7 David le dijo:
–No temas, pues voy a tratarte con
misericordia por causa de tu padre Jonatán.
Te devolveré todos los campos de
tu abuelo Saúl y comerás siempre en mi
mesa.
8 Él se postró y dijo:
–¿Quién es tu siervo para que te fijes
en mí que soy como un perro muerto?
9 El rey llamó entonces a Sibá, servidor
de Saúl, y le dijo:
–Todo lo que pertenecía a Saúl y
a su casa se lo doy al hijo de tu señor.
10 Cultivarás para él la tierra, tú, tus hijos
y tus siervos. Después entregarás la cosecha
a la familia de tu señor para que
puedan comer. Meribaal, hijo de tu señor,
comerá siempre a mi mesa.
Sibá, que tenía quince hijos y veinte
esclavos, 11 dijo al rey:
–Tu siervo cumplirá todo lo que mi
señor, el rey, le ha ordenado.
Meribaal comía a la mesa del rey
como uno de sus hijos. 12 Tenía Meribaal
un hijo pequeño llamado Micá. Todos
los que vivían en la casa de Sibá
eran siervos de Meribaal; 13 pero Meribaal
vivía en Jerusalén porque siempre
comía a la mesa del rey. Era tullido de
ambos pies.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
David vuelve a mostrarse bondadoso con el único descendiente de Saúl que queda. Senor, con quien quires que me muestre bondadoso al igual que David?
La Biblia de Navarra
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para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).