MEPHIBOSHETH
“he who destroys shame” (that is, idols).
(a) Son of Saul and Rizpah, daughter of Aja. Executed at the request of the Gibeonites (2 Sam. 21:8, 9).
(b) Son of Jonathan. He was five years old when his father and grandfather died in the Battle of Gilboa. Terrified at this news, his nurse took him and, running away from him, dropped him, so that he was crippled in both feet (2 Sam. 4:4).
Mephibosheth went on to live in Lodebar, east of the Jordan. Wanting to show him good will in memory of Jonathan, David called him to court, gave him Saul’s possessions, and gave him a place at the royal table (2 Sam. 9:1-13).
During Absalom’s revolt, this prince remained in Jerusalem, and Ziba, his servant, accused him of treason. David believed it, and gave the land of Mephibosheth to Ziba. After David returned to Jerusalem, Jonathan’s son tried to apologize.
David gave him half of his dominions; Mephibosheth stated that he wanted nothing more than the return of the king (2 Sam. 16:1-4; 19:24-30). Micaiah, son of Mephibosheth, perpetuated his dynasty (2 Sam. 9:12).
In 1 Chron. 8:34; 9:40, Mephibosheth is named after Merib-baal, which means “the Lord wrestles” or, perhaps, “fighter against Baal.”
It is possible that originally the name of Jonathan’s son was Merib-baal, but that later the name “baal” (lord) became execrable because of the idolatry that this name evoked, and this component of the name was later changed to ” bosheth» (shame).
David saved Mephibosheth again out of love for Jonathan, when the vengeance demanded by the Gibeonites was carried out (2 Sam. 21:7).