2 Samuel 9 Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This chapter continues the story of what David did as the king of Israel. It describes how David honored his promise to Jonathan by providing for his son Mephibosheth.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Since Saul was dead, how could he still have had a servant?

The author says in 9:2 that the “house of Saul” had a servant named Ziba. The Law of Moses said that if an Israelite had a servant who was not an Israelite, that servant would remain the property of the Israelite’s family after he died. So it appears that Ziba was not an Israelite and that he had stayed on in his role as the steward of Saul’s property in Gibeah of Benjamin even after Saul died and even though Saul’s only surviving son Ishbosheth had fled across the Jordan River to Mahanaim. As the story in this chapter makes clear, Saul had other descendants, including his grandson Mephibosheth, so Ziba, his sons, and his servants had an obligation to maintain the family property for their benefit. In 9:11, Ziba pledges to David that he will do this for Mephibosheth.