Study notes

2 Samuel 9

Introducing 2 SamuelWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

7:1–10:19 Section

David wanted to build a house for the ark of the covenant. The ark had been kept in the holy tent. The tent had moved from place to place with the Israelites since they left Egypt.

The ark was a sign of God’s presence on earth. Through the ark, God had moved from place to place with his people. He did this so that they could trust that he was with them. God didn’t want David to build a house for him. Instead, God promised to build a royal house for David. This was a way of talking about how David’s family line would be Israel’s rulers. The sons born after him would be Israel’s kings. One of David’s sons would build a house for God. That house was the temple.

God promised to be like a father to the kings in David’s family line. This meant that there would always be someone from David’s family line who ruled as king. Many years later, people understood that this was a prophecy about Jesus. David was surprised and amazed at God’s promises to him. He understood that these promises were a covenant. God’s covenant with David would last for ever.

David’s heart was full of thanks. He trusted that God would do what he said he would do. God also promised to give David and the Israelites peace and rest from their enemies. This happened as David won battles over the people groups around the Israelites. The Israelites finally lived in all the land that God had promised to give Abraham.

David did what was fair and right and led the Israelites as a faithful shepherd. One example of this is how he treated Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth. He made sure that Mephibosheth received all the land that had belonged to Saul. He made sure that Mephibosheth always had what he needed. In this way David was faithful to Jonathan’s covenant of friendship with him (1 Samuel 23:16–18).

9:1

  • show kindness: The Hebrew word khesed refers to covenant loyalty and faithfulness (steadfast commitment within a relationship). It often describes God’s faithful commitment to his people. It can also describe deep devotion and loyalty between two people.

    Here, David uses khesed in a way that echoes the covenant of friendship he made with Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:12–17).

  • for the sake of Jonathan: David showed kindness because of his promise to Jonathan. Mephibosheth was Saul’s only remaining descendant and Jonathan’s only son.

9:1–13

David showed mercy to Mephibosheth, the disabled son of Jonathan. This account appears between reports of David’s military victories (2 Samuel 8:1–18, 10). Its placement shows that David not only achieved success in war but also cared for individuals and acted with compassion.

9:3

Mephibosheth was disabled in both feet because of an accident when he was a child (see 2 Samuel 4:4).

9:4

  • Lo-debar was a small town in northern Transjordan (the area east of the Jordan River). It was close to Mahanaim, the capital city of Mephibosheth’s uncle, Ish-bosheth, who had died by this time.

    Lo-debar was also near Jabesh-gilead, where Saul first gained public support as a leader (1 Samuel 11:1–13).

  • Makir son of Ammiel, who hosted Mephibosheth in Lo-debar, later supported David during Absalom’s revolt (2 Samuel 17:27).

9:5

As Saul had once sent for David (1 Samuel 16:19), now David sent for Mephibosheth. However, Saul sent for someone to minister to him, whereas David sent for someone to whom he could minister.

9:6

Because of Mephibosheth's physical limitations, bowing low to the ground must have been very difficult.

9:7

David took all the property that had belonged to Saul.

9:8

a dead dog like me: Mephibosheth understood that anyone who might claim the throne could be killed as a potential threat to the king.

9:11

Both Ziba and Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:6) used the phrase "I am your servant" when they met King David. By calling himself David's servant, Ziba showed he was no longer loyal to Saul's family. Later events raised questions about the sincerity of both Mephibosheth and Ziba (2 Samuel 16:1–4; 19:17–30).

Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources