THE LAME PRINCE
2 Samuel 4:4--2 Samuel 9:1-13
And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son [that was] lame of [his]
feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and
Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and
it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and
became lame. And his name [was] Mephibosheth. 9:1 And David
said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I
may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake? 2 And [there was] of
the house of Saul a servant whose name [was] Ziba. And when they
had called him unto David, the king said unto him, [Art] thou
Ziba? And he said, Thy servant [is he]. 3 And the king said, [Is]
there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the
kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan
hath yet a son, [which is] lame on [his] feet. 4 And the king
said unto him, Where [is] he? And Ziba said unto the king,
Behold, he [is] in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in
Lodebar. 5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house
of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. 6 Now when
Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto
David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said,
Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant! 7 And David
said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for
Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of
Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
8 And he bowed himself, and said, What [is] thy servant, that
thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I [am]? 9 Then the
king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have
given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all
his house. 10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants,
shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in [the fruits],
that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy
master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had
fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then said Ziba unto the
king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his
servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, [said the
king], he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons. 12
And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name [was] Micha. And all
that dwelt in the house of Ziba [were] servants unto Mephibosheth.
13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually
at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet._
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