2Samuel:9-10

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* And David said , Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul , that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan 's sake ? * And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba . And when they had called him unto David , the king said unto him , Art thou Ziba ? And he said , Thy servant is he . * And the king said , Is there not yet any of the house of Saul , that I may shew the kindness of God unto him ? And Ziba said unto the king , Jonathan hath yet a son , which is lame on his feet . * And the king said unto him , Where is he ? And Ziba said unto the king , Behold , he is in the house of Machir , the son of Ammiel , in Lodebar . * Then king David sent , and fetched him out of the house of Machir , the son of Ammiel , from Lodebar . * Now when Mephibosheth , the son of Jonathan , the son of Saul , was come unto David , he fell on his face , and did reverence . And David said , Mephibosheth . And he answered , Behold thy servant ! * And David said unto him , Fear not : for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father 's sake , and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father ; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually . * And he bowed himself , and said , What is thy servant , that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am ? * 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 . * 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 . * Then said Ziba unto the king , According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant , so shall thy servant do . As for Mephibosheth , said the king , he shall eat at my table , as one of the king 's sons . * And Mephibosheth had a young son , whose name was Micha . And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth . * So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem : for he did eat continually at the king 's table ; and was lame on both his feet . * And it came to pass after this , that the king of the children of Ammon died , and Hanun his son reigned in his stead . * Then said David , I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash , as his father shewed kindness unto me . And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father . And David 's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon . * And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord , Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father , that he hath sent comforters unto thee ? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee , to search the city , and to spy it out , and to overthrow it ? * Wherefore Hanun took David 's servants , and shaved off the one half of their beards , and cut off their garments in the middle , even to their buttocks , and sent them away . * When they told it unto David , he sent to meet them , because the men were greatly ashamed : and the king said , Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown , and then return . * And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David , the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob , and the Syrians of Zoba , twenty thousand footmen , and of king Maacah a thousand men , and of Ishtob twelve thousand men . * And when David heard of it , he sent Joab , and all the host of the mighty men . * And the children of Ammon came out , and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate : and the Syrians of Zoba , and of Rehob , and Ishtob , and Maacah , were by themselves in the field . * When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind , he chose of all the choice men of Israel , and put them in array against the Syrians : * And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother , that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon . * And he said , If the Syrians be too strong for me , then thou shalt help me : but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee , then I will come and help thee . * Be of good courage , and let us play the men for our people , and for the cities of our God : and the LORD do that which seemeth him good . * And Joab drew nigh , and the people that were with him , unto the battle against the Syrians : and they fled before him . * And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled , then fled they also before Abishai , and entered into the city . So Joab returned from the children of Ammon , and came to Jerusalem . * And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel , they gathered themselves together . * And Hadarezer sent , and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river : and they came to Helam ; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them . * And when it was told David , he gathered all Israel together , and passed over Jordan , and came to Helam . And the Syrians set themselves in array against David , and fought with him . * And the Syrians fled before Israel ; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians , and forty thousand horsemen , and smote Shobach the captain of their host , who died there . * And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel , they made peace with Israel , and served them . So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more . * And it came to pass , after the year was expired , at the time when kings go forth to battle , that David sent Joab , and his servants with him , and all Israel ; and they destroyed the children of Ammon , and besieged Rabbah . But David tarried still at Jerusalem .

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