“And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.”
Context:Before we delve into the specific verse, let’s understand the background. King David had become the ruler of Israel, succeeding Saul. David wanted to show kindness to any remaining descendants of Saul out of respect for his covenant with Jonathan, who was Saul’s son and David’s dear friend.
The servant Ziba:In this verse, we are introduced to Ziba, a servant from the house of Saul. The fact that David called for Ziba indicates his intention to inquire about the descendants of Saul, particularly Jonathan. Ziba’s response affirms that he is indeed the servant David is looking for.
Implications of David’s inquiry:By asking for Ziba, David expresses his desire to extend kindness and fulfill his promise to Jonathan. This sets the stage for the subsequent revelation about Mephibosheth, who becomes the focus of David’s benevolence.
Overall, this verse serves as an introduction to the subsequent events in 2 Samuel 9, where David discovers Mephibosheth and demonstrates kindness and generosity toward him.
