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
In the biblical narrative of 2 Samuel, King David is returning to Jerusalem after quelling the rebellion led by his son Absalom, a time of great turmoil and reconciliation. Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul and son of Jonathan, had previously been shown kindness by David, who treated him as family despite his disabilities. His unkempt appearance, including not trimming his beard or washing his clothes, was a cultural sign of mourning and loyalty during David's absence, reflecting deep personal grief and fidelity in ancient Near Eastern customs.
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