Atomic Bible

Son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul.

Mephibosheth

Named in 14 verses across 2 books, first in 2 Samuel 4:4.

מְפִיבֹשֶׁתMephibosheth

מְרִיב בַּ֫עַלMerib-baal

מְרִי בַעַלMerib-baal

Also called Merib-baal.

The name means “out of my mouth proceeds reproach.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

Father
Jonathan
Children
Micah
People
Tribe of Benjamin

About Mephibosheth Written by AI

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 (2 Samuel 9:6). 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 (2 Samuel 16:1). After Absalom's death, Mephibosheth met David and explained that Ziba had deceived him (2 Samuel 19:24). 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).

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

This entry is on the name Mephibosheth, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.

Exterminator of shame; i.e., of idols. (1.) The name of Saul’s son by the concubine Rizpah (q.v.), the daughter of Aiah. He and his brother Armoni were with five others “hanged on a hill before the Lord” by the Gibeonites, and their bodies exposed in the sun for five months (2 Sam. 21:8-10). (2.) 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 (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).

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When David was a fugitive, according to the story of Ziba (2 Sam. 16:1-4) Mephibosheth proved unfaithful to him, and was consequently deprived of half of his estates; but according to his own story, however (19:24-30), 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 (21:7). He is also called Merib-baal (1 Chr. 8:34; 9:40). (See ZIBA.)

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names him

  1. 2 Samuel 4:4

    And Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to escape, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.

  2. 2 Samuel 9:6

    And when Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell facedown in reverence. Then David said, “Mephibosheth!” “I am your servant,” he replied.

  3. 2 Samuel 9:10

    You and your sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

  4. 2 Samuel 9:11

    And Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all that my lord the king has commanded.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s own sons.

  5. 2 Samuel 9:12

    And Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.

  6. 2 Samuel 9:13

    So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was lame in both feet.

  7. 2 Samuel 16:1

    When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

  8. 2 Samuel 16:4

    So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!”

  9. 2 Samuel 19:24

    Then Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king had left until the day he returned safely.

  10. 2 Samuel 19:25

    And he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, who asked him, “Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?”

  11. 2 Samuel 19:30

    And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Instead, since my lord the king has safely come to his own house, let Ziba take it all!”

  12. 2 Samuel 21:7

    Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul.

  13. 1 Chronicles 8:34

    The son of Jonathan: Merib-baal, and Merib-baal was the father of Micah.

  14. 1 Chronicles 9:40

    The son of Jonathan: Merib-baal, who was the father of Micah.

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.