David and Mephibosheth
1David asked, “Is anyone left from the royal house of Saul? If there is, I want to be kind to him because of Jonathan.”
2Ziba was a servant in Saul’s family. David sent for him to come and see him. The king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
“I’m ready to serve you,” he replied.
3The king asked, “Isn’t there anyone still alive from the royal house of Saul? God has been very kind to me. I would like to be kind to that person in the same way.”
Ziba answered the king, “A son of Jonathan is still living. Both of his feet were hurt so that he can’t walk.”
4“Where is he?” the king asked.
Ziba answered, “He’s in the town of Lo Debar. He’s staying at the house of Makir, the son of Ammiel.”
5So King David had Mephibosheth brought from Makir’s house in Lo Debar.
6Mephibosheth came to David. He was the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul. Mephibosheth bowed down to David to show him respect.
David said, “Mephibosheth!”
“I’m ready to serve you,” he replied.
7“Don’t be afraid,” David told him. “You can be sure that I will be kind to you because of your father Jonathan. I’ll give back to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul. And I’ll always provide what you need.”
8Mephibosheth bowed down to David. He said, “Who am I? Why should you pay attention to me? I’m nothing but a dead dog.”
9Then the king sent for Saul’s servant Ziba. He said to him, “I’m giving your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10You and your sons and your servants must farm the land for him. You must bring in the crops. Then he’ll be taken care of. I’ll always provide what he needs.” Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants.
11Then Ziba said to the king, “I’ll do anything you command me to do. You are my king and master.” So David provided what Mephibosheth needed. He treated him like one of the king’s sons.
12Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika. All the members of Ziba’s family became servants of Mephibosheth. 13Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem. The king always provided what he needed. Both of his feet were hurt so that he could not walk.
Daudi Na Mefiboshethi
19:1 1Sam 20:14-17, 42; 23:18; 18:3; Mit 27:10Daudi akauliza, “Je, hakuna mtu hata mmoja wa nyumba ya Sauli aliyebaki ambaye naweza kumtendea wema kwa ajili ya Yonathani?”
29:2 2Sam 16:1-4; 19:17, 26-29Basi palikuwepo mtumishi wa nyumba ya Sauli aliyeitwa Siba. Wakamwita aje mbele ya Daudi, naye mfalme akamwambia, “Wewe ndiwe Siba?”
Akamjibu, “Naam, mimi ndiye mtumishi wako.”
39:3 1Nya 8:34; Law 21:18; 1Sam 20:14; 2Sam 4:4; Kum 19:15; Mt 5:44; Lk 6:36; Tit 3:3-4Mfalme akauliza, “Je, hakuna yeyote ambaye amebaki wa nyumba ya Sauli ninayeweza kumwonyesha wema wa Mungu?”
Siba akamjibu mfalme, “Bado yupo mwana wa Yonathani, yeye ni kiwete miguu yote.”
49:4 2Sam 17:27-29Mfalme akauliza, “Yuko wapi?”
Siba akajibu, “Yuko nyumbani kwa Makiri mwana wa Amieli huko Lo-Debari.”
5Basi Mfalme Daudi akamtaka aletwe kutoka Lo-Debari, kutoka nyumbani kwa Makiri mwana wa Amieli.
69:6 Mwa 37:7; 2Sam 16:4Mefiboshethi mwana wa Yonathani, mwana wa Sauli, alipofika kwa Daudi, akainama kumpa mfalme heshima.
Daudi akamwita, “Mefiboshethi!”
Mefiboshethi akajibu, “Ndimi mtumishi wako.”
79:7 1Sam 20:14-15; 2Sam 19:28; 21:7; 1Fal 2:7; 2Fal 25:29; Yer 52:33; Mwa 43:18; 50:21; 1Sam 12:19-24; Yer 52:33Daudi akamwambia, “Usiogope, kwa maana hakika nitakutendea wema kwa ajili ya baba yako Yonathani. Nitakurudishia ardhi yote iliyokuwa mali ya Sauli baba yako, nawe daima utakula chakula mezani pangu.”
89:8 2Sam 4:4; 3:8; 1Sam 24:14; 2Sam 16:9Mefiboshethi akasujudu akasema, “Mimi mtumishi wako ni nini hata uangalie mbwa mfu kama mimi?”
99:9 Isa 32:8Ndipo mfalme akamwita Siba mtumishi wa Sauli na kumwambia, “Nimempa mwana wa bwana wako kila kitu kilichokuwa mali ya Sauli na jamaa yake. 109:10 2Sam 16:3; 19:28Wewe, wanao na watumishi wako mtamlimia mashamba Mefiboshethi na kumletea mavuno, ili kwamba mwana wa bwana wako apate mahitaji yake. Naye Mefiboshethi mwana wa bwana wako atakula chakula mezani pangu daima.” (Siba alikuwa na wana kumi na watano, na watumishi ishirini.)
119:11 Ay 36:7; Za 113:8; 1Sam 16:1-4; Mit 12:17Ndipo Siba akamwambia mfalme, “Mtumishi wako atafanya chochote bwana wangu mfalme atakachoagiza mtumishi wake kufanya.” Basi Mefiboshethi akala chakula mezani pa Daudi kama mmoja wa wana wa mfalme.
129:12 2Sam 4:4; 1Nya 8:34Mefiboshethi alikuwa na mwanawe mdogo aliyeitwa Mika, nao watu wote wa nyumba ya Siba walikuwa watumishi wa Mefiboshethi. 139:13 2Sam 19:33-36; 2Fal 25:29; Yer 52:33-34Naye Mefiboshethi akaishi huko Yerusalemu, kwa sababu daima alikula mezani pa mfalme, naye alikuwa kiwete miguu yote.
