Then King David sent ,.... Messengers; it may be Ziba, none being more proper than he that knew him, and where he was: and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar ; they demanded him in the king's name, and being delivered to them, they brought him from thence to Jerusalem. read more
The facts are: 1 . David, remembering his love for Jonathan, inquires whether there were any survivors of the house of Saul; and being informed of the proximity of Ziba, an old servant, he sends for him. 2 . He is told that a son of Jonathan, lame of foot, is a sojourner in the house of Machir. 3 . Being sent for, Mephibosheth, on appearing before the king, falls on his face and pays reverence, but is spoken to kindly. 4 . Being assured by David that there was no need for fear,... read more
( THE KING 'S PALACE .) Mephibosheth before the king. We have here a picture of— I. EXTRAORDINARY VICISSITUDES IS LIFE . A prince by birth, deprived of his father, crippled by a heedless footstep, carried into exile and poverty, recently a helpless dependent in a remote district, is conducted into the presence of one who was once a shepherd boy, afterwards a wandering outlaw, and now the greatest monarch on earth! Such changes: 1 . May be largely, though not... read more
Remembering former kindnesses (9:1-10:19)Although his power was now great, David did not forget his covenant with Jonathan. Unlike other kings, David would not destroy the family of the king whom he replaced (9:1; see 1 Samuel 20:12-17). David not only spared the life of Jonathan’s sole surviving son, the crippled Mephibosheth, but also restored to him Saul’s family property (2-8; cf. 4:4). David gave Mephibosheth the privilege of free access into the palace, and appointed one of Saul’s former... read more
sent, and fetched . This is the action of grace towards the "lost" sinner. Compare Luke 15:4 , Luke 15:5 read more
"Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar."It is not hard to imagine what Mephibosheth might have thought when the royal chariots with their liveried retainers of the king rolled up in front of the house of Machir. Sure, David had said, "That I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake (2 Samuel 9:1)"; but the universal custom of those times was that any king searched out and slew every relative of any previous king. And in the light of that... read more
A. David’s Faithfulness ch. 9The story of David’s kindness to Mephibosheth (ch. 9) helps to explain David’s subsequent acceptance by the Benjamites. It also enables us to see that the writer returned here to events in David’s early reign."It is, in my personal opinion, the greatest illustration of grace in all the Old Testament." [Note: Swindoll, p. 169.] If Mephibosheth was five years old when Jonathan and Saul died on Mt. Gilboa (2 Samuel 4:4), he was born in 1016 B.C. When David captured... read more
David and Mephibosheth2 Samuel 9-20 have apparently been taken from a single document, written not long after the events recorded, and with special and unique knowledge of the circumstances of David’s court and its life.1-6. As soon as his wars were over, David remembered his promise to his friend Jonathan, and sends for his son Mephibosheth (or Meribbaal).7-13. David entertains Mephibosheth at his table, and bestows on him all the property that formerly belonged to Saul.12. Mephibosheth had a... read more
CHAPTER XII.DAVID AND MEPHIBOSHETH.2 Samuel 9:1-13.THE busy life which King David was now leading did not prevent memory from occasionally running back to his early days and bringing before him the friends of his youth. Among these remembrances of the past, his friendship and his covenant with Jonathan were sure to hold a conspicuous place. On one of these occasions the thought occurred to him that possibly some descendant of Jonathan might still be living. He had been so completely severed... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 9:1-8
Here is, I. David's enquiry after the remains of the ruined house of Saul, 2 Sam. 9:1. This was a great while after his accession to the throne, for it should seem that Mephibosheth, who was but five years old when Saul died, had now a son born, 2 Sam. 9:12. David had too long forgotten his obligations to Jonathan, but now, at length, they are brought to his mind. It is good sometimes to bethink ourselves whether there be any promises or engagements that we have neglected to make good; better... read more