Jonathan's son living at the time of United Monarchy
Mephibosheth, also called Merib-baal, was the son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul.
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Also known as Merib-baal · Meri-baal
Mephibosheth, also known as Merib-baal, was the son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul (1Ch.8.34; 9.40). He was five years old when his father and grandfather died in battle at Mount Gilboa (2Sa.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 (2Sa.4.4). Years later, when David had established his kingdom, he sought to show kindness to Mephibosheth for the sake of his father Jonathan (2Sa.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 (2Sa.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 (2Sa.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 (2Sa.21.7).
Part of: Kings, prophets and the house of David
Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, was lame from a childhood fall. David, remembering his covenant, restored Saul's land to him and seated him at his table.
Sources: 2 Sam 4:4 · 2 Sam 9:1-13 · 2 Sam 21:7
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14 verses in 2 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H4648
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.
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.
You and your sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your masterʼs grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your masterʼs grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
And Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all that my lord the king has commanded.” So Mephibosheth ate at Davidʼs table like one of the kingʼs own sons.
And Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth.
So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the kingʼs table, and he was lame in both feet.
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.
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!”
Then Mephibosheth, Saulʼs 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.
And he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, who asked him, “Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?”
And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Instead, since my lord the king has safely come to his own house, let Ziba take it all!”
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.
The son of Jonathan: Merib-baal, and Merib-baal was the father of Micah.
The son of Jonathan: Merib-baal, who was the father of Micah.
Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.