2 Samuel 16:3

And the king said, And where [is] thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

And the king {H4428} said {H559}, And where is thy master's {H113} son {H1121}? And Ziba {H6717} said {H559} unto the king {H4428}, Behold, he abideth {H3427} at Jerusalem {H3389}: for he said {H559}, To day {H3117} shall the house {H1004} of Israel {H3478} restore {H7725} me the kingdom {H4468} of my father {H1}.

The king asked, "Where is your master's [grand]son?"Tziva answered the king, "He's staying in Yerushalayim, because he said, 'Today the house of Isra'el will restore my father's kingship to me.'"

“Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’”

And the king said, And where is thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem; for he said, To-day will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

Commentary

2 Samuel 16:3 captures a pivotal moment of deception during King David's flight from Absalom's rebellion. Here, David inquires about Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul, whom David had previously shown great kindness and promised a place at his table (see 2 Samuel 9:7). Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, seizes this opportunity to betray his master by falsely claiming Mephibosheth remained in Jerusalem, hoping the kingdom would be restored to him.

Context

This verse is set against the backdrop of David's hasty retreat from Jerusalem as Absalom's coup gained momentum. Overwhelmed and vulnerable, David encounters Ziba, who appears with provisions and donkeys, seemingly loyal and helpful (2 Samuel 16:1-2). David, in his distress, quickly accepts Ziba's version of events without further investigation, leading to a rash judgment against Mephibosheth.

Key Themes

  • Deception and Betrayal: Ziba's words are a calculated lie, designed to gain personal advantage by slandering his master. This highlights the dangers of trusting appearances, especially in times of crisis.
  • Hasty Judgment: King David, under immense pressure and grief, makes a swift decision based solely on Ziba's testimony (2 Samuel 16:4). This illustrates how emotional distress can impair discernment and lead to unjust outcomes.
  • Greed and Ambition: Ziba's motive is clear: to inherit Mephibosheth's land and secure favor with the king, even if it means destroying another's reputation and livelihood.
  • Loyalty vs. Self-Interest: The verse sharply contrasts David's prior covenant loyalty to Jonathan's house with Ziba's self-serving treachery.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "where [is] thy master's son?" is a direct inquiry reflecting David's concern for Mephibosheth, given their past relationship. Ziba's response, "he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father," uses strong, declarative language to paint a picture of Mephibosheth as disloyal and ambitious, a stark contrast to his actual state, as later revealed (2 Samuel 19:24-30).

Commentary and Application

This passage serves as a powerful cautionary tale about the ease with which lies can take root, especially when presented to someone in a vulnerable state. David, despite his wisdom, falls prey to Ziba's manipulative words because he is distracted by the overwhelming threat of Absalom's rebellion. This reminds us to exercise caution and seek corroboration before believing accusations, particularly when the accuser stands to gain from the downfall of another. It underscores the importance of patience and thoroughness in judgment, even when under duress. For modern believers, it's a call to discernment, to not let fear or crisis lead us to make hasty decisions that could harm others or ourselves. Just as David later discovered the truth about Mephibosheth, we are reminded that truth often comes to light, and integrity ultimately prevails over cunning.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Samuel 9:9

    ¶ Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.

  • 2 Samuel 9:10

    Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in [the fruits], that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

  • Proverbs 1:19

    So [are] the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; [which] taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

  • Exodus 20:16

    Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

  • Deuteronomy 19:18

    And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, [if] the witness [be] a false witness, [and] hath testified falsely against his brother;

  • Deuteronomy 19:19

    Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.

  • Psalms 101:5

    Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
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