Mephibosheth

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Check 2 Samuel 19:24-30
Mephibosheth’s name meant “he who scatters shame,” or “from the mouth of shame.” He was Jonathan’s son and the grandson of Saul, the first king of Israel.

Mephibosheth’s original name seems to have been Meribbaal (I Chronicles 8:34. The earlier form of the name Meribbaal was “Meribaal.” As both names contain the name of Ba’al, this may be confusing to readers of the scriptures. Ba’al was used as a name in many ways, but from about the end of the third millennium (B.C.) the title was applied specifically to the Amorite god of winter rain and storm, otherwise known as Hadad. The cult of Ba’al posed a temptation to the Israelites to move away from monotheism and “hedge their bets” by also worshiping Ba’al. (Deities in charge of weather would have been attractive to the people as they moved from nomadic life to a settled agricultural lifestyle.)


Now common, monotheism was still unusual by the time of Jesus, when adding devotion to new gods or newly discovered ones was not considered disloyalty to the old ones. The Jews and Christians were viewed almost as atheists because they were neglecting all other gods.


The forms of the name “Maribbaal” and the earlier “Maribaal” reflect the striving of the Israelite people for faithful devotion to one God, Yahweh. Maribaal meant “man or hero of Baal” or “loved by Baal.” Maribbaal means “opponent of Baal.” Mephibosheth seems to have been a further evolving of the name. In the name way, the names Jerubbaal and Ishbaal eventually became Jerubbosheth and Ishbosheth.


Please refer to the previoous study for further information about Mephibosheth’s father, Jonathan.


Mephibosheth was five years old when the news came of his father’s death at Mount Gilboa. The nurse caring for the young prince feared that he might meet the same fate. In panic, she was trying to flee but, in her hurry, Mephibosheth’s feet were injured and he was crippled from that time forward. (Not surprising, as broken bones in the feet would not have been as easy to set as a straight bone such as leg or arm. Adding to the difficulty would have been the distraught nurse and the turmoil of the household. Mephibosheth’s injuries might have waited a long time before being addressed, and the bones may have already set in a unnatural position.)


With his father dead and with the subsequent deaths of the rest of Saul’s sons, Mephisbosheth was likely the presumptive heir to the throne.

Jewish Legend: One minor strand of legends suggests that Mephibosheth engineered the death of his uncle Ishbosheth, in hopes of succeeding him. Mephibosheth would have been a child at the time David ascended to the throne, however, which makes such an action unlikely. Other legends regard Mephibosheth as a man of deep integrity and learning, whose loyalty to David should have gone unquestioned.

Mephibosheth never pressed a claim to the throne and found shelter in the home of a benefactor, Machir the son of Ammiel, a powerful Transjordanian noble.


Mephisbosheth was eventually summoned to the court of David, who sought to express his friendship for Jonathan through Jonathan’s son. David granted to him the property of his grandfather, Saul, and committed him to the custody of Ziba, the former steward of Saul.


Steward: A steward in ancient times was an important position. A king, noble or wealthy family could not manage all the day-to-day details of their land or belongings. A trustworthy person was designated a steward. Joseph, who was a slave in Egypt, was put in charge of his master’s household. Later he was put in a similar position for the entire land of Egypt. The concept of stewardship remains important. Without using the word, stewardship, public officials are considered to be those entrusted with government, not as owners, but managers for the public trust. The same concept can be discerned in business and other circumstances, such as the executor of an estate. In spiritual terms, God is the owner (King or Lord) and humans the ones called to responsible stewardship of land, time, finances, talents and other resources.

Mephibosheth was invested as a permanent member of the king’s board. (II Samuel 9)

Jewish legend concerning Mephibosheth.

He was a great man, much like his father, and he became a scholar in religious law. His wisdom was such that even David was willing to sit at his feet, and he revered Mephibosheth as his teacher. David is said to have had had Mephibosheth review his decisions on religious questions to be sure that they were in accordance with the law.

Trouble came to Jonathan’s son with the rebellion of David’s son, Absolom. Ziba proved a treacherous steward who slandered Mephibosheth, misrepresenting him as trying to seize the throne for himself. Ziba strengthened his deception when he brought supplies to David who was fleeing Jerusalem at the time. Fooled by the lies and by the pretence of support, David ordered all of the possessions of Mephibosheth to be given to Ziba (II Samuel 16:1-14)


After the rebellion had been crushed, Mephibosheth went to meet David at the Jordan. Wearing untrimmed beard and unwashed clothes, he expressed overwhelming grief at the troubles suffered by David. David demanded to know why he still lived in Jerusalem. Mephibosheth exposed the ruse of Ziba and professed his unwavering loyalty to David. Mephibosheth’s integrity was convincing to David.


However, David was likely also grateful for the supplies Ziba had provided, regardless of the motives. Thus he decided that Mephibosheth and Ziba should share equally in the lands that had belonged to Saul. But Mephibosheth expressed his joy at David’s safety by declaring, “Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home.”

Jewish Legend: One legend states

that the wrong done by David to Mephibosheth did not meet with heavenly approval. When David proposed the division of the estate, a voice from heaven is said to have prophesied the later division of the kingdom between Jeroboam and Rehoboam. Legend also states that the temple was destroyed because David gave ear to Ziba’s slander of Mephibosheth. The scriptures themselves clearly do not attribute the kingdom’s later misfortune to this particular decision of David. However, David’s sometimes ambiguous choices and moral decisions could certainly be said to have played a part in later events, even many years later.

Mephibosheth had a son named Mica (or Micah) (II Samuel 9:12). A well-known family in Israel was descended from him. (I Chronicles 8:35; 9:41)


The theme of any portrait of Mephibosheth could well be the old saying, “The fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Though he lost his father at an early age, Mephibosheth may have drawn on memories of this kindly, loyal man who had a genius for friendship. No doubt he also heard stories of his father’s qualities. But Mephibosheth’s own altruism and integrity merit an award as one of the unsung heroes of the Bible.

Some Starting Questions:

What would it feel like to have your loyalty and integrity maligned as Ziba did to Mephibosheth? And, even worse, to have the deception believed by someone you loved and had shown you kindness?

Mephibosheth did a kindness to Ziba, giving him everything, despite his treachery. He also did a kindness to David, saving him from any awkwardness about the re-apportioning of the lands. What New Testament teachings express the theme of Mephibosheth’s actions?