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Mephibosheth also, Saul's grandson, met David, clothed in a sordid
garment, and having his hair thick and neglected; for after David was fled
away, he was in such grief that he had not polled his head, nor had he
washed his clothes, as dooming himself to undergo such hardships upon occasion
of the change-of the king's affairs. Now he had been unjustly calumniated
to the king by Ziba, his steward. When he had saluted the king, and worshipped
him, the king began to ask him why he did not go out of Jerusalem with
him, and accompany him during his flight. He replied, that this piece of
injustice was owing to Ziba; because, when he was ordered to get things
ready for his going out with him, he took no care of it, but regarded him
no more than if he had been a slave; "and, indeed, had I had my feet
sound and strong, I had not deserted thee, for I could then have made use
of them in my flight: but this is not all the injury that Ziba has done
me, as to my duty to thee, my lord and master, but he hath calumniated
me besides, and told lies about me of his own invention; but I know thy
mind will not admit of such calumnies, but is righteously disposed, and
a lover of truth, which it is also the will of God should prevail. For
when thou wast in the greatest danger of suffering by my grandfather, and
when, on that account, our whole family might justly have been destroyed,
thou wast moderate and merciful, and didst then especially forget all those
injuries, when, if thou hadst remembered them, thou hadst the power of
punishing us for them; but thou hast judged me to be thy friend, and hast
set me every day at thine own table; nor have I wanted any thing which
one of thine own kinsmen, of greatest esteem with thee, could have expected."
When he had said this, David resolved neither to punish Mephibosheth, nor
to condemn Ziba, as having belied his master; but said to him, that as
he had [before] granted all his estate to Ziba, because he did not come
along with him, so he [now] promised to forgive him, and ordered that the
one half of his estate should be restored to him.
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Whereupon Mephibosheth said, "Nay, let Ziba take all; it suffices
me that thou hast recovered thy kingdom."