Open English Translation 2SA Chapter 9

9 One day David asked, “Is there still anyone remaining from Sha’ul’s extended family because I’d like to show kindness to them for Yonatan’s sake?”[ref]

2 Now there was a servant in Sha’ul household named Tsiva and he was summoned to David, and the king asked him, “Are you Tsiva?”

“Yes, I’m your servant,” he replied.

3 “Is there anyone from Sha’ul’s family who’s still alive?” the king asked. “If so, I’d like to show God’s kindness to them.”[ref]

“Yes, There’s still one of Yonatan’s sons alive,” Tsiva told the king. “He’s crippled in both legs.”

4 “Where is he?” the king asked.

“Actually,” Tsiva told the king, “he’s at Makir’s house—the son of Ammiel in Lo-Debar.” 5 So King David sent messengers to Lo-Debar to have him brought to Yerushalem.

6 Then Yonatan’s son Mefiboshet came to David and fell onto his knees and bowed his face down to the ground, and David said, Mefiboshet.”

“I’m your servant,” he replied.

7 Then David told him, “Don’t be afraid, because I’ll certainly show you kindness for the sake of your father Yonatan. I’ll restore all the pastureland that belonged to your grandfather Sha’ul, and you yourself are invited to always eat at my table.”

8 Mefiboshet bowed low and asked, “Your servant’s nothing more than a dead dog. Why would you care about me?”

9 Then the king summoned Sha’ul’s servant Tsiva and told him, “I’ve given everything that belonged to Sha’ul and to all his household to your master. 10 You and your fifteen sons and your twenty servants must work the land for him and harvest the produce to support your master’s grandson, but he will eat with me at my house.”

11 “Yes, my master the king,” Tsiva responded. “Your servant will do everything you’ve commanded.”

So from then on, Mefiboshet always ate at the king’s table as if he was one of the king’s sons. 12 Mefiboshet had a young son named Mika. All Tsiva’s household became Mefiboshet’s servants, 13 but Mefiboshet (who was crippled in both legs) lived in Yerushalem because he had a permanent invitation to eat with the king.