John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. And [there was] of the house of Saul a servant whose name [was] Ziba , etc.] Or there was a servant that belonged to Saul’s family; not that any of Saul’s family was a servant; and this servant the Jews commonly say was a Canaanitish servant, and who upon the death of his master was not made free, but became the inheritance and possession of his children after him, ( Leviticus 25:46); though Josephus says he was made free by Saul: and when they had called him unto David ; who it seems was now at court, or in Jerusalem, on some account or another; or was in David’s service, in some inferior post or another; however, having been a quondam servant of Saul, it was thought he could give the best intelligence of his family, and whether any were living, and therefore was sent for; and when he was come into the king’s presence, the king said unto him, [art] thou Ziba ? for he had been told before by some of his courtiers what his name was: and he said, thy servant [is he] ; or my name is Ziba, and I am at thy command.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Amidst numerous affairs we are apt to forget the gratitude we owe, an the engagements we are under, not only to our friends, but to God himself. Yet persons of real godliness will have no rest till they have discharged them. And the most proper objects of kindness and charity frequently will not be found without inquiry. Jonathan was David' sworn friend, therefore he shows kindness to his son Mephibosheth. God is faithful to us; let us not be unfaithful to one another. I Providence has raised us, and our friends and their families ar brought low, we must look upon that as giving us the fairer opportunit of being kind to them.
Original Hebrew ולבית1004 שׁאול7586 עבד5650 ושׁמו8034 ציבא6717 ויקראו7121 לו אל413 דוד1732 ויאמר559 המלך4428 אליו413 האתה859 ציבא6717 ויאמר559 עבדך׃5650
