Reference: Ziba
American
A rich steward of Saul, whom David charged with similar duties towards Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, 2Sa 9:2-10. By a false representation David was induced to transfer to Ziba the lands he had given to Mephibosheth, but afterwards divided them between the two, being convinced that he had acted hastily, and unable to decide with certainty for either, 2Sa 16:1-4; 19:24-30.
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And there was, of the household of Saul, a servant named Ziba which was called unto David. And the king said unto him, "Art thou Ziba?" And he said, "Thy servant is the man." Then said the king, "Remaineth there yet any man of the kindred of Saul, whom I may show the mercy of God upon?" And Ziba said unto the king, "Jonathan hath yet a son which is lame on both feet." read more. 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, out of Lodebar. Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul was come unto David, he bowed himself and fell on his face. Then said David, "Mephibosheth?" And he answered, "Behold thy servant." And David said, "Fear not, for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan's sake and will restore thee all the fields of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat meat on mine own table always." And the other bowed himself and said, "What is thy servant that thou shouldst vouchsafe to look upon such a dead dog as I am?" Then the king called unto Ziba, Saul's young man, saying unto him, "I give unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his kin. See therefore that thou and thy sons and thy servants till the land for him, and bring in, that thy master's son may have food to eat. For Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat meat always upon my table." For this Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth came against him with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves and one hundred bunches of raisins, and a hundred frayls of dried figs, and a bottle of wine. Then said the king to Ziba, "What hast thou there?" And Ziba said, "Asses for the king's household to ride on, and bread and fruit for the young men to eat, and wine to drink, if any man faint in the wilderness." read more. Then said the king, "Where is thy master's son?" and Ziba said unto the king, "Behold, he tarrieth still at Jerusalem. For he said, 'This day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.'" Then said the king to Ziba, "Behold, thine are all that pertained to Mephibosheth." And Ziba answered, "I beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight my lord king."
And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet nor shaved his beard nor washed his clothes from the time the king departed, until he came again in peace. And when he was come to Jerusalem toward the king, the king said unto him, "Wherefore went not thou with me Mephibosheth?" read more. And he said, "My lord king, my servant deceived me. For thy servant said: that I would have mine ass saddled to ride thereon, for to go to the king, because thy servant is lame. And he hath thereto complained on thy servant unto my lord the king. But my lord the king is as an Angel of God: do therefore what seemeth best in thine eyes. For all my father's house were but dead men unto my lord the king: and yet didst thou put me among them that eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet, to cry any more unto the king?" And the king said, "It needeth thee not to speak any more, for I have said that thou and Ziba shall divide the lands between you." And Mephibosheth said unto the king, "Yea, let him take all: for so much as my lord the king is come in peace unto his own house."
Easton
post; statue, "a servant of the house of Saul" (2Sa 9:2), who informed David that Mephibosheth, a son of Jonathan, was alive. He afterwards dealt treacherously toward Mephibosheth, whom he slanderously misrepresented to David.
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And there was, of the household of Saul, a servant named Ziba which was called unto David. And the king said unto him, "Art thou Ziba?" And he said, "Thy servant is the man."
Fausets
A servant of Saul's house, according to Josephus (Ant. 7:5, Section 5) a freedman of Saul. He had 15 sons and 20 servants (2Sa 9:10; 16:1-4; 19:17,29). (For the rest (See MEPHIBOSHETH ).
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See therefore that thou and thy sons and thy servants till the land for him, and bring in, that thy master's son may have food to eat. For Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat meat always upon my table." For this Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth came against him with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves and one hundred bunches of raisins, and a hundred frayls of dried figs, and a bottle of wine. Then said the king to Ziba, "What hast thou there?" And Ziba said, "Asses for the king's household to ride on, and bread and fruit for the young men to eat, and wine to drink, if any man faint in the wilderness." read more. Then said the king, "Where is thy master's son?" and Ziba said unto the king, "Behold, he tarrieth still at Jerusalem. For he said, 'This day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.'" Then said the king to Ziba, "Behold, thine are all that pertained to Mephibosheth." And Ziba answered, "I beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight my lord king."
and a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants with him. And they whipt over Jordan before the king.
And the king said, "It needeth thee not to speak any more, for I have said that thou and Ziba shall divide the lands between you."
Hastings
A servant, probably a freedman, of Saul. He appears before David (2Sa 9:1-11), possessing 15 sons and 20 servants, and is consulted as to the existence of any members of the house of Saul. He informs David of the retreat of Mephibosheth, to whom David restores the lands of his father and appoints Ziba steward. On David's flight from Jerusalem (2Sa 16:1-4) Ziba followed him with provisions, and accused Mephibosheth of treachery. He received a grant of his master's lands, but on David's return Mephibosheth was able to clear himself and was allowed to retain a half (2Sa 19:24-30).
W. F. Boyd.
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Then said David, "Is there yet any man left of the house of Saul, that I may show him mercy for Jonathan's sake?" And there was, of the household of Saul, a servant named Ziba which was called unto David. And the king said unto him, "Art thou Ziba?" And he said, "Thy servant is the man." read more. Then said the king, "Remaineth there yet any man of the kindred of Saul, whom I may show the mercy of God upon?" And Ziba said unto the king, "Jonathan hath yet a son which is lame on both 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, out of Lodebar. Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul was come unto David, he bowed himself and fell on his face. Then said David, "Mephibosheth?" And he answered, "Behold thy servant." And David said, "Fear not, for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan's sake and will restore thee all the fields of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat meat on mine own table always." And the other bowed himself and said, "What is thy servant that thou shouldst vouchsafe to look upon such a dead dog as I am?" Then the king called unto Ziba, Saul's young man, saying unto him, "I give unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his kin. See therefore that thou and thy sons and thy servants till the land for him, and bring in, that thy master's son may have food to eat. For Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat meat always upon my table." For this Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then said Ziba unto the king, "All that my lord hath said unto his servant, thy servant shall do." "For," said the king, "Mephibosheth must eat upon my table, as one of the king's sons."
And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth came against him with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves and one hundred bunches of raisins, and a hundred frayls of dried figs, and a bottle of wine. Then said the king to Ziba, "What hast thou there?" And Ziba said, "Asses for the king's household to ride on, and bread and fruit for the young men to eat, and wine to drink, if any man faint in the wilderness." read more. Then said the king, "Where is thy master's son?" and Ziba said unto the king, "Behold, he tarrieth still at Jerusalem. For he said, 'This day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.'" Then said the king to Ziba, "Behold, thine are all that pertained to Mephibosheth." And Ziba answered, "I beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight my lord king."
And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet nor shaved his beard nor washed his clothes from the time the king departed, until he came again in peace. And when he was come to Jerusalem toward the king, the king said unto him, "Wherefore went not thou with me Mephibosheth?" read more. And he said, "My lord king, my servant deceived me. For thy servant said: that I would have mine ass saddled to ride thereon, for to go to the king, because thy servant is lame. And he hath thereto complained on thy servant unto my lord the king. But my lord the king is as an Angel of God: do therefore what seemeth best in thine eyes. For all my father's house were but dead men unto my lord the king: and yet didst thou put me among them that eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet, to cry any more unto the king?" And the king said, "It needeth thee not to speak any more, for I have said that thou and Ziba shall divide the lands between you." And Mephibosheth said unto the king, "Yea, let him take all: for so much as my lord the king is come in peace unto his own house."
Morish
Zi'ba
Originally a servant or slave of the house of Saul. When Mephibosheth was invited to the court of David, and the possessions of Saul were made over to him, Ziba was instructed with his fifteen sons and twenty servants, to manage the estates for Mephibosheth. This subordinate service may have been galling to Ziba's pride, and may account for his after conduct. On the insurrection of Absalom, Ziba went with provisions for David, and said that Mephibosheth, hoping to have the kingdom restored to him, had remained in Jerusalem. Whereupon David gave to Ziba all the inheritance of Mephibosheth. On David's return Mephibosheth declared that Ziba had deceived him and slandered him to the king, and the sacred historian says Mephibosheth had neglected his person and his clothes all the while that David had been from Jerusalem. Having given all that was Mephibosheth's to Ziba, David now divided the possessions between the two. Nothing more is recorded of Ziba. 2Sa 9:2-12; 16:1-4; 19:17,29.
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And there was, of the household of Saul, a servant named Ziba which was called unto David. And the king said unto him, "Art thou Ziba?" And he said, "Thy servant is the man." Then said the king, "Remaineth there yet any man of the kindred of Saul, whom I may show the mercy of God upon?" And Ziba said unto the king, "Jonathan hath yet a son which is lame on both feet." read more. 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, out of Lodebar. Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul was come unto David, he bowed himself and fell on his face. Then said David, "Mephibosheth?" And he answered, "Behold thy servant." And David said, "Fear not, for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan's sake and will restore thee all the fields of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat meat on mine own table always." And the other bowed himself and said, "What is thy servant that thou shouldst vouchsafe to look upon such a dead dog as I am?" Then the king called unto Ziba, Saul's young man, saying unto him, "I give unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his kin. See therefore that thou and thy sons and thy servants till the land for him, and bring in, that thy master's son may have food to eat. For Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat meat always upon my table." For this Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then said Ziba unto the king, "All that my lord hath said unto his servant, thy servant shall do." "For," said the king, "Mephibosheth must eat upon my table, as one of the king's sons." This Mephibosheth had a son that was young named Mica, and all that dwelled in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.
And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth came against him with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves and one hundred bunches of raisins, and a hundred frayls of dried figs, and a bottle of wine. Then said the king to Ziba, "What hast thou there?" And Ziba said, "Asses for the king's household to ride on, and bread and fruit for the young men to eat, and wine to drink, if any man faint in the wilderness." read more. Then said the king, "Where is thy master's son?" and Ziba said unto the king, "Behold, he tarrieth still at Jerusalem. For he said, 'This day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.'" Then said the king to Ziba, "Behold, thine are all that pertained to Mephibosheth." And Ziba answered, "I beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight my lord king."
and a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants with him. And they whipt over Jordan before the king.
And the king said, "It needeth thee not to speak any more, for I have said that thou and Ziba shall divide the lands between you."
Smith
Zi'ba
(statue), a servant of Saul whom David made steward of Saul's son Mephibosheth.
[MEPHIBOSHETH] (B.C. 1023.)
See Mephibosheth
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And there was, of the household of Saul, a servant named Ziba which was called unto David. And the king said unto him, "Art thou Ziba?" And he said, "Thy servant is the man." Then said the king, "Remaineth there yet any man of the kindred of Saul, whom I may show the mercy of God upon?" And Ziba said unto the king, "Jonathan hath yet a son which is lame on both feet." read more. 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, out of Lodebar. Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul was come unto David, he bowed himself and fell on his face. Then said David, "Mephibosheth?" And he answered, "Behold thy servant." And David said, "Fear not, for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan's sake and will restore thee all the fields of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat meat on mine own table always." And the other bowed himself and said, "What is thy servant that thou shouldst vouchsafe to look upon such a dead dog as I am?" Then the king called unto Ziba, Saul's young man, saying unto him, "I give unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his kin. See therefore that thou and thy sons and thy servants till the land for him, and bring in, that thy master's son may have food to eat. For Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat meat always upon my table." For this Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then said Ziba unto the king, "All that my lord hath said unto his servant, thy servant shall do." "For," said the king, "Mephibosheth must eat upon my table, as one of the king's sons." This Mephibosheth had a son that was young named Mica, and all that dwelled in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. And Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate ever at the king's table, and was thereto halt on both legs.
And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth came against him with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves and one hundred bunches of raisins, and a hundred frayls of dried figs, and a bottle of wine. Then said the king to Ziba, "What hast thou there?" And Ziba said, "Asses for the king's household to ride on, and bread and fruit for the young men to eat, and wine to drink, if any man faint in the wilderness." read more. Then said the king, "Where is thy master's son?" and Ziba said unto the king, "Behold, he tarrieth still at Jerusalem. For he said, 'This day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.'" Then said the king to Ziba, "Behold, thine are all that pertained to Mephibosheth." And Ziba answered, "I beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight my lord king."
and a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants with him. And they whipt over Jordan before the king.
And the king said, "It needeth thee not to speak any more, for I have said that thou and Ziba shall divide the lands between you."