Mephibosheth (son of Jonathan)

From BibleWiki

The son of Jonathan, and grandson of Saul (2 Sam 4:4). He was but five years old when his father and grandfather fell on Mount Gilboa. The child's nurse hearing of this calamity, fled with him from Gibeah, the royal residence, and stumbling in her haste, the child was thrown to the ground and maimed in both his feet, and ever after was unable to walk (2 Sam 19:26). He was carried to the land of Gilead, where he found a refuge in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar, by whom he was brought up.

Some years after this, when David had subdued all the adversaries of Israel, he began to think of the family of Jonathan, and discovered that Mephibosheth was residing in the house of Machir. Thither he sent royal messengers, and brought him and his infant son to Jerusalem, where he ever afterwards resided (2 Sam. 9).

When David was a fugitive, according to the story of Ziba (2 Sam 16:1ff) Mephibosheth proved unfaithful to him, and was consequently deprived of half of his estates; but according to his own story, however (2 Sam 19:24ff), he had remained loyal to his friend. After this incident he is only mentioned as having been protected by David against the vengeance the Gibeonites were permitted to execute on the house of Saul (2 Sam 21:7). He is also called Merib-baal (1Chr 8:34; 1Chr 9:40).

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Only son of Jonathan, son of Saul, first king of Israel. The chronicler gives him the name of Merib-baal (I Chron. viii. 34), meaning, perhaps, "Ba'al contends." The relation of the two names is similar to that existing between Ishbosheth = "man of shame," and Esh-baal = "man of Baal" (ib. verse 33). Upon the slaughter of Saul and his sons on Mt. Gilboa, the nurse in Jonathan's house fled with Mephibosheth, and in the flight the child fell and became a permanent cripple (II Sam. iv. 4). When David came to the throne his formerlove for Jonathan impelled him to inquire whether any of Saul's house remained alive, that he might show them kindness for the sake of his former bosom friend. Through Ziba, who had been a servant of Saul, he learned of the cripple Mephibosheth. David had him brought to Jerusalem, restored to him the estate of Saul, and made him a perpetual guest at the royal table (ib. ix. 1-8).

When David fled from Absalom this royal heir remained in Jerusalem—according to Ziba's story (ib. xvi. 3), that he might be ready to take the throne which was about to be restored to his father's house. On David's triumphal return to Jerusalem Mephibosheth went out to meet and greet him. He was unwashed and unkempt. When David questioned him concerning his reason for having remained behind, Mephibosheth threw the blame on Ziba, and as evidence of his own sincerity pointed out his unkempt state (ib. xix. 24-30). The king was evidently perplexed at the conflicting stories; and he decided that the estate of Saul should be divided equally between the questionable characters with whom he had to deal. Mephibosheth had a son, Micah (I Chron. viii. 34, 35).