Tyndale Open Study Notes2 Samuel 9

David showed mercy to Mephibosheth, the disabled son of Jonathan. This account appears between reports of David’s military victories (2 Samuel 8:1–18, 10). Its placement shows that David not only achieved success in war but also cared for individuals and acted with compassion.

• show kindness: The Hebrew word khesed refers to covenant loyalty and faithfulness (steadfast commitment within a relationship). It often describes God’s faithful commitment to his people. It can also describe deep devotion and loyalty between two people.

  Here, David uses khesed in a way that echoes the covenant of friendship he made with Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:12–17).

• for the sake of Jonathan: David showed kindness because of his promise to Jonathan. Mephibosheth was Saul’s only remaining descendant and Jonathan’s only son.

Mephibosheth was disabled in both feet because of an accident when he was a child (see 2 Samuel 4:4).

• Lo-debar was a small town in northern Transjordan (the area east of the Jordan River). It was close to Mahanaim, the capital city of Mephibosheth’s uncle, Ish-bosheth, who had died by this time.

  Lo-debar was also near Jabesh-gilead, where Saul first gained public support as a leader (1 Samuel 11:1–13).

• Makir son of Ammiel, who hosted Mephibosheth in Lo-debar, later supported David during Absalom’s revolt (2 Samuel 17:27).

As Saul had once sent for David (1 Samuel 16:19), now David sent for Mephibosheth. However, Saul sent for someone to minister to him, whereas David sent for someone to whom he could minister.

Because of Mephibosheth's physical limitations, bowing low to the ground must have been very difficult.

David took all the property that had belonged to Saul.

a dead dog like me: Mephibosheth understood that anyone who might claim the throne could be killed as a potential threat to the king.

Both Ziba and Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:6) used the phrase "I am your servant" when they met King David. By calling himself David's servant, Ziba showed he was no longer loyal to Saul's family. Later events raised questions about the sincerity of both Mephibosheth and Ziba (2 Samuel 16:1–4; 19:17–30).

lame in both feet: See 2 Samuel 4:4.