David is king of the united tribes of Israel. It was a bloodless coup on his part. He patiently waited to rule over Judah and, eventually, all the tribes, allowing God to work on his behalf. Saul, his son Jonathan, and two of Jonathan's brothers died in war against the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:1–6). David became king of Judah (2 Samuel 2:4). Saul's general Abner installed Saul's son Ish-bosheth as king over the remaining tribes (2 Samuel 2:8). About two years later, bandits murdered Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 4:5–6). The tribes invited David to be their king, as well (2 Samuel 5:3).

In that era, it was a completely acceptable tradition for a man who took the throne from another family—or, sometimes, even his own—to kill all the male heirs. David doesn't do this. He knows God has made him king, and he will be king of whatever God gives him, whenever God wants.

Another odd thing about David is that the son of the previous king, the heir-apparent, was his best friend (1 Samuel 18:1). Jonathan even agreed that David, not he, should be king (1 Samuel 23:17). David remembers the covenant he made with Jonathan that David would not kill him or his children (1 Samuel 20:14–17, 42).

It's time for David to make good on that promise. For the sake of Jonathan, David wants Saul's sons and grandsons to make themselves known. He asks Saul's former servant Ziba, and Ziba reveals that Jonathan still has a living son, Mephibosheth, whose feet were permanently injured when a nurse tried to take him to safety after his father's death (2 Samuel 4:4; 9:1–4).

Mephibosheth is understandably concerned. We don't know the timing of this event, but it could be as much as thirty years after Jonathan died and David became king. David doesn't let him grovel, however. He promises to restore Saul's land to him and to host him at the royal table every day (2 Samuel 9:5–8).

David then turns to Ziba. He orders Ziba and his fifteen sons to tend Saul's land on behalf of Mephibosheth. Ziba agrees (2 Samuel 9:9–13).

The chapter ends here, but the story doesn't. In the future, David's son Absalom will betray him and take Jerusalem. When David and his household flee Jerusalem, Ziba meets him with a large amount of provisions. Ziba tells David that Mephibosheth has betrayed him, thinking Israel will give him the crown as Saul's heir. David gives Ziba all of Mephibosheth's land (2 Samuel 16:1–4).

But David was deceived. When he returns to Jerusalem, Mephibosheth meets him. He had been in such mourning he hadn't groomed or washed his clothes since David left. He had wanted to follow David, but Ziba left him behind. Since Mephibosheth couldn't walk, he couldn't saddle his own donkey. David tells Mephibosheth he and Ziba will share the land. Mephibosheth tells him David's return is more important than any land (2 Samuel 19:24–30).

Mephibosheth isn't Saul's only male descendant. Because of Saul's sin against the Gibeonites, God places a famine on the land. To stop it, David has to give seven of Saul's sons to the Gibeonites. He finds two sons of Saul's concubine Rizpah, and three of Saul's daughter Merab: the daughter David was supposed to have married (1 Samuel 18:17–19). We never learn what Saul did, but the Gibeonites kill the men, and God stops the famine (2 Samuel 21:1–9).

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