Kindness To The Lame

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Study Group meeting February 5 to study 2 Samuel 9.  There is a lot of weirdness in this chapter.  David's actions toward Mephibosheth may seem strange, or at least they should.  But also consider the circumstances David found him in.

Read through this chapter several times, noting odd details, jotting down questions, and perhaps marking your Bible.  Then read ahead at 2 Samuel 16:1-4, and then skip to 19:24-30.  Then skip ahead to 2 Samuel 21:1-9 (which seems confusing).  These passages complete the account of Mephibosheth in David's story.  Without what has preceded (this chapter and the account earlier in 2 Samuel 4:4), these later details would not have made sense.  So this lengthy explanation needed to be included before the account of Absalom.

After you have read these accounts, noting and jotting down questions, read back through this chapter with the questions below:

• Why do you think David would ask about the house of Saul at this point?  What do you think people are thinking when he does?
• Ziba is brought to David, who is Ziba?  And what do you think Ziba's life has been like up to this point?
• David  asks where Mephibosheth is.  Why do you think he wasn't with Ziba already?
• Why do you think Mephibosheth is not with Saul's family in Benjamin? (he's across the Jordan)
• Consider that Mephibosheth falls on his face before David.  How debilitating do you think his 'lame' feet are?  How do you think he looks as he walks?
• The term, "eat at the kings table" doesn't refer to a literal 'table' or meal time, it refers to the source of the meals that Mephibosheth would eat.  So, how is Mephibosheth being treated by David?
• What do you think is going through Mephibosheth's mind at this point?
• What do you think is going through Ziba's mind at this point?
• Now David turns to Ziba, and tells him that everything of Saul reverts to Mephibosheth and that he now works for him.  What do you think is going through Ziba's mind now?
• Consider that all that Ziba does for Mephibosheth he doesn't really need per se because his meals are provided for by the king.  How do you think this makes Ziba feel?
• With that point (what Ziba produces isn't necessary to Mephibosheth), what happens to the produce?
• Why the detail that Ziba has so many children and servants?  What do you think the writer is pointing out here?
• Why do you think it's interesting that Mephibosheth has a son?  What detail is then missing?
• As you read the accounts ahead, who's missing?
• Why do you think it's important to repeat that Mephibosheth is lame in both feet?

2 Samuel 16:1-4

• David is fleeing from Absalom, and Ziba meets him with supplies.  What is his explanation of the supplies?
• David asks about Mephibosheth.  Does Ziba's answer make much sense to you?  Why do you think David believes him?

2 Samuel 19:24-30

• Mephibosheh makes the effort to come down to David as he enters Jerusalem.  What do you think this looks like?
• Consider how unkempt Mephibosheth looks. Does that help or hinder his story?
• He has a mustache.  Why not a beard?
• Does the account of Mephibosheth ring true?  Was he waiting for Ziba to bring him a donkey? Did he miss the 'last cab out of town' or something?
• Mephibosheth finishes his explanation by recounting all that David did for him, and that it was not deserved.  How does that help Mephibosheth?
• Who do you believe between the two?  If Mephibosheth sounds more plausible, why do you think David split the goods?
• What do you think about Mephibosheth's response to splitting the lands/goods with Ziba?
• This seems to be where the issue is left.  Do you think Mephibosheth ever gains favor with David again?

We're not going to cover the issues in chapter 21 just yet. There's too much weirdness to just skip over.  So, we'll cover that in detail when we get to that chapter.

Remember to bring your notes and questions to group.  This is an interesting account, and I think we're going to enjoy studying together.