Mephibosheth Summary
STEPBible TIPNR
Mephibosheth, also called Merib-baal, was the son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul.
son of Jonathan (2SA 4:4)
Lineage: Aphiah › Bechorath › Zeror › Abiel › Kish › Saul › Jonathan › Mephibosheth
Names
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en
Mephibosheth
out of my mouth proceeds reproach
- en Merib-baal · Also called
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en
Mephibosheth
· Also called · H4648 none · 2SA 4:4 from the mouth of Shame [a derogatory name for Baal]”
- en Meri-baal · Also called
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he
מְפִיבֹשֶׁת
məfiyboshet · H4648 · 2SA 4:4 from the mouth of Shame [a derogatory name for Baal]”
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he
מְרִיב בַּעַל
məriyv baal · H4807 & H4810 · 1CH 8:34 Baal contends
- he מְפִיבֹשֶׁת · H4648G
- he מְרִיב בַּ֫עַל · H4807
- he מְרִי בַעַל · H4810
- el Μεμφιβοσθε Memphibosthe · none · 2SA 4:4
- el Μεριβααλ Meribaal · none · 1CH 8:34
- bg Мемфивостей
Birth
Mentioned in (14)
SDA Books
Awaiting permission to publishLinked through an explicitly cited Bible passage
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Dates and sources (4)
Absolute years are conditional chronological estimates. A biblical passage may state an age or event, but does not by itself establish a BCE year. Different calendar systems are preserved separately.
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Birth BibleData Matches the current date; this is not historical verificationUssher BCE year:
1060→ ≈ 1060 BCSource record and calculation
Birth_Mephibosheth_1·ussher_bce_yearbibledata/BibleData-Event.csv· record 220The year of Mephibosheth_1's birth is the year of Jonathan's death (2951) - his age at his father's death (5) = 2946[Ussher date p58]SHA-256:52f528713303be832f5df028feaf598fed23636f2b87ad669597370994baaceb -
Birth BibleData Alternative estimateBibleData BCE year:
1016→ ≈ 1016 BCSource record and calculation
Birth_Mephibosheth_1·bce_yearbibledata/BibleData-Event.csv· record 220The year of Mephibosheth_1's birth is the year of Jonathan's death (2951) - his age at his father's death (5) = 2946[Ussher date p58]SHA-256:52f528713303be832f5df028feaf598fed23636f2b87ad669597370994baaceb -
Birth BibleData Alternative estimateAH with conditional Ussher anchor:
2946→ ≈ 1059 BCSource record and calculation
Birth_Mephibosheth_1·event_year_ahbibledata/BibleData-Event.csv· record 220The year of Mephibosheth_1's birth is the year of Jonathan's death (2951) - his age at his father's death (5) = 2946[Ussher date p58]SHA-256:52f528713303be832f5df028feaf598fed23636f2b87ad669597370994baaceb -
Birth BibleData Unverified estimate without an established conversionUssher AM:
2944· No established conversion to a BCE/CE year.Source record and calculation
Birth_Mephibosheth_1·ussher_am_yearbibledata/BibleData-Event.csv· record 220The year of Mephibosheth_1's birth is the year of Jonathan's death (2951) - his age at his father's death (5) = 2946[Ussher date p58]SHA-256:52f528713303be832f5df028feaf598fed23636f2b87ad669597370994baaceb
Mephibosheth Article
STEPBible TIPNR
Mephibosheth, also known as Merib-baal, was the son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul (1Ch 8:34; 9.40). He was five years old when his father and grandfather died in battle at Mount Gilboa (2Sa 4:4). During the panic following their deaths, Mephibosheth's nurse picked him up to flee, but he fell and became lame in both feet (2Sa 4:4). Years later, when David had established his kingdom, he sought to show kindness to Mephibosheth for the sake of his father Jonathan (2Sa 9:6). David restored to him all the land that had belonged to Saul and allowed him to eat at the king's table regularly (2Sa.9.6,10,11,13). Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica (2Sa 9:12). During Absalom's rebellion, Mephibosheth's servant Ziba falsely accused him of disloyalty to David (2Sa.16.1,4). After Absalom's death, Mephibosheth met David and explained that Ziba had deceived him (2Sa.19.24,25). David divided Saul's land between Mephibosheth and Ziba (2Sa 19:30). Later, when the Gibeonites demanded seven of Saul's descendants to avenge Saul's attempt to annihilate them, David spared Mephibosheth because of his oath to Jonathan (2Sa 21:7).
Mephibosheth 2 Dictionary
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
The son of Jonathan, and grandson of Saul (2 Sam. 4:4). He was but five years old when his father and grandfather fell on Mount Gilboa. The child’s nurse hearing of this calamity, fled with him from Gibeah, the royal residence, and stumbling in her haste, the child was thrown to the ground and maimed in both his feet, and ever after was unable to walk (19:26). He was carried to the land of Gilead, where he found a refuge in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar, by whom he was brought up.
Some years after this, when David had subdued all the adversaries of Israel, he began to think of the family of Jonathan, and discovered that Mephibosheth was residing in the house of Machir. Thither he sent royal messengers, and brought him and his infant son to Jerusalem, where he ever afterwards resided (2 Sam. 9).
When David was a fugitive, according to the story of Ziba (2 Sam. 16:1-4) Mephibosheth proved unfaithful to him, and was consequently deprived of half of his estates; but according to his own story, however (19:24-30), he had remained loyal to his friend. After this incident he is only mentioned as having been protected by David against the vengeance the Gibeonites were permitted to execute on the house of Saul (21:7). He is also called Merib-baal (1 Chr. 8:34; 9:40).
Sources: BibleData (CC BY 4.0, Mephibosheth_1) · STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0, Mephibosheth@2Sa.4.4-1Ch) · Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0, mephibosheth_1999)