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Mephibosheth

מְפִיבֹשֶׁת · me.phi.vo.shet · H4648Gמְרִיב בַּ֫עַל · me.riv ba.al · H48071 other spelling“out of my mouth proceeds reproach” Hitchcock's 186914 mentions in 2 books, most in 2 Samuel (12)

Who he was

Mephibosheth, also known as Merib-baal, was the son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul (1 Chronicles 8:34; 9.40). He was five years old when his father and grandfather died in battle at Mount Gilboa (2 Samuel 4:4). During the panic following their deaths, Mephibosheth's nurse picked him up to flee, but he fell and became lame in both feet (2 Samuel 4:4). Years later, when David had established his kingdom, he sought to show kindness to Mephibosheth for the sake of his father Jonathan (2 Samuel 9:6). David restored to him all the land that had belonged to Saul and allowed him to eat at the king's table regularly (2Sa.9.6,10,11,13). Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica (2 Samuel 9:12). During Absalom's rebellion, Mephibosheth's servant Ziba falsely accused him of disloyalty to David (2Sa.16.1,4). After Absalom's death, Mephibosheth met David and explained that Ziba had deceived him (2Sa.19.24,25). David divided Saul's land between Mephibosheth and Ziba (2 Samuel 19:30). Later, when the Gibeonites demanded seven of Saul's descendants to avenge Saul's attempt to annihilate them, David spared Mephibosheth because of his oath to Jonathan (2 Samuel 21:7).

Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Family

FatherJonathanChildrenMicah
Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Every mention

14 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)
2 SamuelChapter 4: 1 mentionChapter 9: 5 mentionsChapter 16: 2 mentionsChapter 19: 3 mentionsChapter 21: 1 mention12 mentions
2 Samuel 4:4Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came about Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse picked him up and fled. As she…2 Samuel 9:6Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, fell on his face, and showed respect. David said, “Mephibosheth?” He answered, “Behold, your servant!”2 Samuel 9:10Till the land for him—you, your sons, and your servants. Bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have bread to eat; but Mephibosheth your master’s son will always eat bread at my…2 Samuel 9:11Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table like one of the king’s sons.2 Samuel 9:12Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. All who lived in Ziba’s house were servants to Mephibosheth.2 Samuel 9:13So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. He was lame in both his feet.2 Samuel 16:1When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters…2 Samuel 16:4Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.”2 Samuel 19:24Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither groomed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he…2 Samuel 19:25When he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”2 Samuel 19:30Mephibosheth said to the king, “Yes, let him take all, because my lord the king has come in peace to his own house.”2 Samuel 21:7But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Yahweh’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
1 ChroniclesChapter 8: 1 mentionChapter 9: 1 mention2 mentions

What the dictionary says

Exterminator of shame; i.e., of idols.

Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
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Sources