And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.
Mephibosheth, who was Saul's grandson, came down to meet the king. He hadn't taken care of his feet, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely.
This verse shows how Mephibosheth had been in deep mourning and neglected his personal care the entire time King David was away, demonstrating his genuine loyalty and grief.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs when King David is returning to Jerusalem after fleeing from his son Absalom's rebellion. Mephibosheth was the disabled son of Jonathan (Saul's son) whom David had shown kindness to for Jonathan's sake. During David's exile, Mephibosheth's servant Ziba had told David that Mephibosheth was hoping to reclaim his grandfather Saul's throne.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.