Bible Strands
2 Samuel 9:2
And there was a servant of the house of Saul named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king inquired, “Are you Ziba?” “I am your servant,” he replied.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David summons Ziba, identified as a servant belonging to Saul’s household, to his court following his vow to show kindness to Jonathan’s remaining family. The king directly addresses the man to confirm his identity before pressing for information about Saul’s descendants.
The words — The Hebrew `עֶ֙בֶד` (`'e.ved`) literally means "servant" or "slave," establishing Ziba’s legal status within Saul’s estate. The verb `וַ/יִּקְרְאוּ\־` (`va/i.yik.re.'u-`) denotes the act of summoning, indicating an official royal inquiry rather than a casual meeting.
The thread — Ziba reappears in 2 Samuel 16:1 and 19:17 as a servant brought to meet David during his flight and return, while the theme of household servants appears in Genesis 15:2 with Eliezer. The narrative tracks how a single household official becomes a focal point for royal inquiries about Saul’s lineage.
Why it lands — The text records a formal summons and identity verification before any discussion of Saul’s descendants begins. It requires a reader to note the administrative procedure David follows before extending covenant loyalty to a former enemy’s family.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 16:1 When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
- 2 Samuel 19:17 along with a thousand men of Benjamin, as well as Ziba the steward of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan before the king
- Genesis 15:2 But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
- Genesis 24:2 So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,
- Genesis 39:6 So Potiphar left all that he owned in Joseph’s care; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,
- 2 Samuel 19:27 and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. Yet my lord the king is like the angel of God, so do what is good in your eyes.