AHH MEPHIBOSHETH!!  A TRUE KIND & VERY GRACIOUS GENTLEMAN, THROUGH & through; TRUE & true!!  He never ceased in his "thanks", & "loyalty" to David... His lord & king!!  Even going as far as to stop dressing his feet, shave, or change his clothes, when David's arrogant, & self-centered son tried to take David's throne!!  During this time - twas Mephibosheth - who sent David & his men, provender, in the wilderness!!  What a GUY!  And ALWAYS amongst mine AND my mother's favorite people in the Bible!!

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So ~ without further ado ~ Mephibosheth's awesome story!! 

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Mephibosheth (Biblical Hebrew: מְפִיבֹשֶׁת, romanized: Məp̄īḇošeṯ, also called Meribaal, מְרִיב־בַּעַל‎, Mərīḇ-Baʻal), was born

in,what is now, Tell el-Fûl... (ancient Gibeah), just north of Jerusalem.  He was the son of Jonathan, (King-to-be David's best friend), and the grandson of King Saul, (the first King of Israel.)

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Mephibosheth began the first years of his life, here, in what remains of his grandfathers palace, in Gibeah.  No doubt the first years of his life were spent in pomp and splendor, as a normal, healthy, and happy kid.

 

 Mephibosheth was five years old when both his father, and grandfather, King Saul, died in battle on Mount Gilboa.  After their deaths, his nurse took him up in panic and fled.  While fleeing, young 5 year old Mephibosheth, fell amidst the chaos and was lame, (unable to walk), from that​ point on in his life.  Mephibosheth was carried with the rest of his family beyond the Jordan to the mountains of Gilead, where he found refuge in the house of Makhir ben Ammiel, a powerful Gadite,

to Lo-debar.

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There, he remained for years before King David remembered his best friend Jonathan ...

2 Samuel 9:1-13

B And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” C Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” D And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” E The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” F Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. G And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” H And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” I And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”  (9) Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. K And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. L Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. M And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. N So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, (here, at King David's palace), for he ate always at the king’s table.

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I love the story of Miphibosheth!!  Upon his death, he was buried in the family burial plot of Kish in Zela, located in the land of Benjamin, along with his father and grandfather, King Saul. The exact location isn't known, though I wish it was.  I'd love to have a photo of Miphibosheth's tomb to link here... as he's among my favorites from the Bible.

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RIP #MEPHIBOSHETH!