Mephibosheth

A son of Jonathan, also called Merib-baal, 1Ch 8:34. SeeESHBAAL. Mephibosbeth was very young when his father was killed in the battle of Gilboa, 2Sa 4:4, and his nurse was in such consternation at the news, that she let the child fall; and from this accident he was lame all his life. When David found himself in peaceable possession of the kingdom, he sought for all that remained of the house of Saul, that he might show them kindness, in consideration of the friendship between him and Jonathan. He gave Mephibosheth the estate of his grandfather Saul. Of a part of this, however, he was afterwards deprived by the treachery of his steward Zeba, and the hasty injustice, as it appears, of David towards and unfortunate but noble and loyal prince, 2Sa 9:1-13 16:1-4 19:24-30. David subsequently took care to exempt him from the number of the descendants of Saul given up to the vengeance of the Gibeonites, 2Sa 21:1-14, though another Mephibosheth, a son of Saul was slain, 2Sa 21:8.