But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
But the king protected Mephibosheth, who was Jonathan's son and Saul's grandson, because of the promise made before the LORD between David and Jonathan, Saul's son.
The writer is showing how King David honored his sacred promise to his friend Jonathan by protecting Jonathan's son, even when it would have been politically convenient to eliminate him.
📚 Historical Context
This verse occurs during a time when David was dealing with a famine that God said was due to Saul's bloodguilt against the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites demanded that seven of Saul's descendants be handed over to them for execution. However, David had made a covenant with Jonathan years earlier, promising to show kindness to his family forever, so he spared Mephibosheth from this fate.
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