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.
Then Ziba said to the king, 'I will do everything exactly as my lord the king has commanded me.' And the king said, 'As for Mephibosheth, he will eat at my table just like one of my own sons.'
King David is showing incredible kindness by treating Mephibosheth, the disabled grandson of his former enemy, like his own son and giving him a permanent place at the royal table.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during David's reign when he sought to show kindness to any remaining family of his deceased friend Jonathan, son of King Saul. Mephibosheth was Jonathan's son who had been crippled in both feet since childhood and was living in exile, likely fearing David would kill him as potential rival claimant to the throne, which was common practice for new kings.
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