And there was of the house of Saul a servantwhosename was Ziba. And whenthey had called him untoDavid, the kingsaidunto him, Art thouZiba? And he said, Thy servant is he.
And the kingsaid, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Zibasaidunto the king, Jonathanhath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.
Now whenMephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was comeuntoDavid, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And Davidsaid, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
And Davidsaidunto him, Fear not: for I willsurelyshewtheekindness for Jonathan thy father’ssake, and willrestorethee all the land of Saul thy father; and thoushalt eat bread at my tablecontinually.
Thoutherefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shalltill the land for him, and thoushaltbring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may havefood to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat breadalway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteensons and twentyservants.
ThensaidZibaunto the king, According to all that my lord the kinghathcommanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’ssons.