Jonathan's Son Mephibosheth

Once David became king of a united Israel, he wanted to know if any male members of Saul’s family had survived God’s wrath. A servant of Saul, by the name of Ziba, told him that Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth was still alive. Mephibosheth was only five years old when Saul and Jonathan died. When his nurse heard of their tragic deaths, she grabbed him and fled. While fleeing she dropped him, leaving Mephibosheth crippled for life.

By the time David found him, Mephibosheth was a man who had a son named Micah. II Samuel 9:6 records that when he appeared before David, Mephibosheth bowed to him and said, "Behold thy servant!"

David told him in verse 7, "...Fear not for I will surely shew kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul; and the land of Saul thy father; and thou shall eat bread at my table continually."

By allowing him to eat at the king’s table, David recognized him his as a son. David ordered Ziba to be caretaker of Saul’s property. Since Mephibosheth was crippled, he would not be able to work the land. After he received all these blessing from David, Mephibosheth remained humble. In II Samuel 9:8 he referred to himself as a dead dog.

Years later, David’s son Absalom led a revolt, and invaded Jerusalem. As David was fleeing from Jerusalem, Ziba came to his aide. He provided the king with two donkeys that were saddled with supplies. When the King asked about Mephibosheth, Ziba told him that he was in Jerusalem. He also stated that Mephibosheth had hopes of regaining his father’s thorn. David then gave all Mephibosheth’s property to Ziba.

After Absalom’s downfall, David returned to his throne in Jerusalem. When Mephibosheth greeted him, David noticed that he was very dirty, barefooted, and unshaven. He told the king that Ziba had falsely accused him of being a traitor. David ordered that he split the land with Ziba. Mephibosheth said that Ziba could have everything. The scriptures don’t revel his innocence or guilt. But when Mephibosheth turned down all his worldly goods, it showed that he was man much like his father Jonathan.

When Israel was plagued by famine, the Gibeonites came to David and demanded revenge on the house of Saul. During the days of Joshua, the Gibeonites had been spared from the destruction. Instead they were put into slavery. Saul had put many of them to death, which broke the covenant Joshua had made with them. Seven men from Saul’s lineage were hanged, Mephibosheth’s life was spared. David never broke his covenant with Jonathan.

If it had not been for Mephibosheth, the house of Saul would have died out. I Chronicles 8 records the genealogy of Saul. Mephibosheth’s name is changed to Meribbaal. The last man mention in passage was Ulam. He had 150 sons and grandsons who were skilled archers. The house of Saul belonged to the tribe of Benjamin. A tribe that was known for its warriors.

Jonathan was killed as a results of Saul’s disobedience. But since he had remained faithful to God, the Lord allowed his lineage to live on.