And when David was a little past the summit, behold, Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred [loaves] of bread, and a hundred raisin-cakes, and a hundred cakes of summer fruits, and a flask of wine.
David is fleeing Jerusalem, driven out by his own son Absalom. Just past the top of the hill, a man meets him with loaded donkeys and food. The gift looks like loyalty at the very moment loyalty costs something. But commentators differ over what was in the giver's heart.
Ziba already had a place in this story. He ran the estates of Saul's house that David had handed over to Mephibosheth.
He began as a servant or slave in the house of Saul. David invited Mephibosheth to his court and handed Saul's property over to him. He then put Ziba in charge of managing the estates for Mephibosheth, along with Ziba's fifteen sons and twenty servants. That lower place may have stung Ziba's pride, and may explain how he acted later.
The supplies reach David on the worst day of his life. One writer finds real comfort for the king in them.
Nevertheless, the king was not without comfort and joy. He was not without that which consoled, soothed, and cheered his spirit in the day of his calamity... And so it is, beloved friends, that, where grace is in the heart, the Lord will give the opportunity to show it. He is giving us that opportunity right now, while Jesus is still despised — and He is despised, even though in words people acknowledge Him as seated on the throne.
Ziba's generosity was aimed at something: the estates of the man he served.
But Mephibosheth had a faithless servant, who, to promote his own ends, misrepresented him to the king... He pretends kindness to David, and blackens the character of Mephibosheth, in order to get possession of his lands. He takes advantage of his master's weakness of body to deceive and malign him. What a picture!
On the surface, Ziba looks like the better man.
It would seem as if Ziba, the self-righteous man, had the best religion. Yes, and to sight, it has always seemed so. But God knows the secrets of all hearts. To all outward appearance, there seemed to be great zeal and devotedness in Ziba; and he had such a beautiful form of prayer. But all was hypocrisy within.
Commentators differ here. One writer reads the same scene far more kindly, and draws a different lesson.
He saddles the donkeys and loads them with everything the king's companions need for their flight. He spares himself no trouble. What beautiful zeal — the lovely result of grace at work in his heart — for nothing obliged him to do it. Still, this zealous heart lacks integrity. Or at the very least, it credits Mephibosheth with motives that were never his. I do not believe that he lies knowingly... Nothing is as dangerous as claiming to read other people's thoughts so as to know their motives... We take little interest in spotting another's good intentions; we insist instead on the evil ones. But God reserves for Himself the right to judge hearts.
David does not test the story. One writer lists what should have made him pause.
David should have suspected at once that there was something questionable in Ziba's words. Ziba was clearly not bringing these things with Mephibosheth's permission. Besides, Mephibosheth's attitude to David had proved admirable before. Would he change so completely? Also, how would he ever expect to get the kingdom? He was crippled in both feet, and Absalom was an attractive, popular man who had won the people's admiration. In fact, later events proved Ziba's accusation completely false (ch.19:24-30). He had taken advantage of Mephibosheth's lameness to see that he had no way of coming to David.
One writer reads the three men in this scene as a picture.
David, Ziba and Mephibosheth here are representative characters. David, I hardly need to say, is a picture of Christ in this present time of His rejection. Ziba stands for a self-righteous child of nature, and Mephibosheth for a helpless child of grace... Ziba never became anything more than a "servant." He is called a servant again and again... Ziba stands for the crowd of outwardly religious people who expect to reach heaven at last by serving God. And these always slander genuine Christians, who credit all their salvation to the grace of God. They make loud professions and display great zeal.
- Rejection tests. The day the king is driven out is the day hearts show themselves. Grace gets its chance to appear while the true King is still despised.
- Zeal. Ziba spared himself no trouble, and the supplies were real. But looks alone can never settle what a heart is worth.
- Motive. The kindness was aimed at his master's lands. Commentators differ on whether Ziba lied on purpose or only assumed the worst about him.
- Slander. David believed a report he could have tested in a moment. A crippled man who could not defend himself lost everything for a time.
- Return. Ziba stayed a servant. Mephibosheth was a child of grace. The truth about each one came out when the king came back.
And the king said to Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses are for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruits for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint in the wilderness may drink.
David is in flight from Jerusalem, and a man meets him on the road with a loaded gift. Ziba explains what each part of the load is for, but the chapter goes on to ask whether his generosity was loyal or calculating.
Whatever Ziba's motive, the meeting itself is a mercy in the middle of David's worst day. One writer reads the meeting as proof that God gives a willing heart its moment. That moment is now, while Jesus is still despised.
The king was not without comfort and joy. He was not without something to console, soothe, and cheer his spirit in the day of his trouble… And so it is, dear friends: where grace is in the heart, the Lord will give the opportunity to show it. He is giving us that opportunity now, while people still despise Jesus — and they despise Him even while their words own Him as seated on the throne.
The verse never says the supplies were Ziba's. They belonged to Mephibosheth, Ziba's master. Later David asks him why he stayed behind, and the truth comes out.
But what about the fruits, and bread, and wine? "Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?" (2 Sam. 19:25). And now the truth comes out. It was he who had provided the loads of fruit carried by the donkeys. But Mephibosheth was lame, so Ziba had slipped into the saddle. In that way he misrepresented Mephibosheth and played the hypocrite.
The gift was not free. Ziba was carrying goods that were not his own.
The help he brings to David is credited to himself, and he finds a royal reward for it at his master's cost.
Seen from outside, Ziba is the model follower and Mephibosheth the no-show.
To all outward appearance, there seemed to be great zeal and devotion in Ziba, and he had such a beautiful form of prayer. But it was all hypocrisy within.
Commentators differ on how far Ziba's guilt went. One reads the scene more gently: the practical service was real, and the damage came from guessing at someone else's motives.
He saddles the donkeys and loads them with everything the king's companions in flight need. He spares himself no trouble… Still, this eager heart lacks uprightness — or at the very least, it credits Mephibosheth with motives that were not his. I do not believe he lies knowingly… Nothing is as dangerous as claiming to read other people's thoughts to work out their motives.
David asks two good questions — what the load is for, and where the owner is — then acts on the answer without checking it.
David was so deceived by Ziba's false words that he judged the matter without inquiry. He told Ziba that all Mephibosheth's property was now to belong to Ziba. This was an unjust judgment. He took from Mephibosheth everything that rightly belonged to him and gave it to a servant who had no right to it at all.
One writer reads the three men as pictures — a rejected king, and two men who stand in very different places.
David is a picture of Christ in the present hour of His rejection. Ziba represents a self-righteous child of nature, and Mephibosheth a helpless child of grace… Ziba never became anything more than a "servant." Scripture calls him a servant again and again. Mephibosheth is like real Christians, who are "sons of God."
- Timing. The load arrives at David's lowest point. Where grace is in the heart, God supplies the moment to show it — and that moment is now, while the King is still refused.
- Ownership. The supplies were Mephibosheth's, not Ziba's. He was lame, so his servant took the saddle and the credit.
- Motive. Service to the rejected king can be a bid for gain. Ziba took the credit for his help and won a royal reward at his master's cost.
- Appearance. Great zeal and fine words prove nothing. Commentators differ on whether Ziba lied outright or only read motives into a man he never asked.
- Judgment. David judged without inquiry and stripped an innocent man. A gift is not evidence, and an absent man deserves a hearing.
And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said to the king, Behold, he abides at Jerusalem; for he said, To-day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
David is fleeing Jerusalem during Absalom's revolt, and Ziba meets him on the road with supplies. When David asks where Mephibosheth is, Ziba answers with a charge made behind the man's back — and that one answer costs Mephibosheth his whole estate.
Ziba was Mephibosheth's servant, and his charge was not careless talk. One writer names both the pretence and the profit behind it.
But Mephibosheth had a faithless servant, who, to promote his own ends, misrepresented him to the king. He pretends kindness to David, and blackens Mephibosheth's character, to get hold of his lands. He takes advantage of his master's weakness of body to deceive and malign him. What a picture!
The accusation collapses under a moment's thought, and commentators are struck that David swallowed it.
Ziba in great craftiness meets the exiled king with provisions and acts as the false accuser of Mephibosheth. And David hastily puts all that belongs to Mephibosheth into his hands. Strange that David could believe the falsehood of Ziba. How could one who was a helpless cripple hope to possess a kingdom?
There was more against the story than Mephibosheth's lameness. His past conduct and the political facts both pointed the other way.
David should have suspected at once that there was something questionable in Ziba's words… But more than this, Mephibosheth's attitude toward David had proven admirable before. Would he change so completely? And how could he ever expect to get the kingdom? He was crippled in both feet, and Absalom was an attractive, popular man who had won the admiration of the people.
David's failure was not only that he believed a lie. It was the way he judged it.
Next we have Ziba and his slander of Mephibosheth, and again we find David making the saddest "haste." He judges without the accused present, and on the strength of a most unlikely story. It was told by a man who could well expect that slandering his master would be his stepping-stone to gain. He takes the credit for the help he brings to David, and he wins a royal reward for it at his master's cost.
The rule David ignored was already written down for Israel:
Someone slanders another believer. Do we have the courage to tell the slanderer that we will go to the person slandered and find out the truth? David didn't follow the commandment of Deuteronomy 19:15: "A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong… Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established."
The guilt does not sit only with the person who spreads a lie. It rests on the one who accepts it.
Notice that the first thing forbidden is "a false report." The margin offers "receive" in place of "raise" as another translation… That it is wrong to raise them we all admit. Do we all realize the wrong of receiving them? An argument or dispute arises among Christians. Someone brings an evil or damaging report about the opponent in that matter. How tempting it is to accept it at once as certainly true, when after all it is a false report. We should examine any evil report with care and check it before we accept it.
Ziba won the estate, but that was not the end of it.
That was a dreadful lie of Ziba's, but David believed it, and he says, "Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is yours." It is very easy to blackball a Christian. It is very easy for one young man to tell lies about another, but the truth will all come out.
The outward show was impressive. One writer follows the scene through to the day the rejected king returns.
The first thing here is a great display of service to the king — donkeys loaded with bread, and fruits, and wines… Ziba tells the king that he is staying in Jerusalem, trying to get the kingdom. Really this seems as if Ziba, the self-righteous man, had the best religion. Yes, and to sight it has always seemed so. But God knows the secrets of all hearts. To all outward appearance there seemed to be great zeal and devotion in Ziba, and he had such a beautiful form of prayer. But all was hypocrisy within. The day of the return of the rejected David came at last, and Mephibosheth goes out to meet him. Yes, and the day of the return of the rejected Jesus will quickly come; and every child of grace, whether sleeping in the dust or alive when He comes, will go out to meet Him in the air. (1 Thess. 4:15-18.)
- Motive. Ziba's kindness was a cover. He blackened his master's name to take his lands, using his master's lameness against him.
- Improbability. A man lame in both feet, with the popular Absalom in power, was in no position to expect a kingdom. The story should have failed on its face.
- Haste. David judged without hearing the accused, on one witness, and gave away another man's inheritance in a breath.
- Hearers. Receiving a false report is as wrong as raising one. Check any damaging report before you believe it.
- Time. Ziba gained the estate that day, but the king came back — slander is easy, and the truth will all come out.
And the king said to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained to Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly bow myself may I find favour in thy sight, my lord, O king.
David is fleeing Jerusalem when a servant meets him with food, drink and a story about his master. In one sentence the king hands over a whole estate, on a report no one has checked.
The king decides the case while the accused man is far away. One writer points to David's haste:
Next we have Ziba and his slander of Mephibosheth, and again we find David making the saddest "haste." He judges while the accused is absent, on the strength of a most improbable story. And the story came from a man who might well suppose that slandering his master was his own stepping-stone to advancement. The help he brings to David is credited to himself, and he finds royal repayment for it at his master's cost.
Ziba's gift of food and drink was not generosity. It was an investment, and this verse is the return.
But Mephibosheth had a faithless servant, who, to promote his own ends, misrepresented him to the king. The opening verses of chapter 16 will give the reader an account of what Ziba did. He pretends kindness to David, and blackens the character of Mephibosheth, in order to get possession of his lands. He takes advantage of his master's weakness of body to deceive and slander him. What a picture!
Ziba's story was that Mephibosheth stayed behind hoping to be made king.
Ziba in great craftiness meets the exiled king with provisions and acts as the false accuser of Mephibosheth. And David hastily puts all that belongs to Mephibosheth into his hands. It is strange that David could believe Ziba's falsehood. How could a helpless, lame man hope to gain a kingdom? Mephibosheth had been deceived (19:26) by Ziba, and David readily believed the lying story.
The verse ends with Ziba's own words: humility from a man who has just won an estate by lying.
However, David was so deceived by Ziba's false words that he judged the matter without inquiry. He told Ziba that now all Mephibosheth's property was to belong to Ziba. The judgment was unjust. He took from Mephibosheth all that rightly belonged to him and gave it to a servant who had no right to it at all. Of course it was worse than this, as the later history proved. Ziba's fawning reply was only hypocrisy: "I pay homage; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king." In this matter, David's wisdom failed him greatly.
One writer turns this into a rule for judging any matter:
But further, we must never be guided in judgment by a one-sided statement. Everyone is liable, even with the best intentions, to slant his account of a case... "Hear the other side" is a healthy motto. And not only hear the other side, but hear all the facts on both sides, and then you will be able to form a sound and righteous judgment. Take it as a standing rule: any judgment formed without accurate knowledge of all the facts is completely worthless.
A comment on Proverbs names David's mistake directly:
Are we inclined to answer a case before we have heard it fully? This is folly and shame! (v. 13). Even David did this once, when Ziba lied to him about Mephibosheth (2 Sam. 16:1-4), and when David was later corrected, he acted unfairly, to save his own reputation (2 Sam. 19:24-30).
Mephibosheth is not there to answer the charge. But lies do not last:
That was a dreadful lie of Ziba's. But David was deceived, and he says, "Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours." It is very easy to smear a Christian. It is very easy for one young man to tell lies about another, but the truth will all come out. When David's kingdom was restored and he came back to Jerusalem, the first person to come out and meet him was Mephibosheth. He was a mourner. His heart was as true as steel to David.
Some writers read the men in this story as pictures of larger things:
David, I need hardly say, is a picture of Christ in the present time of His rejection. Ziba represents a self-righteous child of nature and Mephibosheth a helpless child of grace... Ziba never became anything more than a "servant." He is repeatedly called a servant. Mephibosheth is like real Christians, who are "sons of God." Ziba stands for the mass of religious pretenders who expect, by serving God, to get to heaven at last. And these always slander genuine Christians, who credit all their salvation to the grace of God.
- Haste. David gave away an estate on one man's word, without hearing the accused.
- Motive. The gift of food was never kindness — Ziba's help was credited to himself and repaid at his master's cost.
- Hypocrisy. Ziba's closing words are fawning hypocrisy; loud humility can cover a lie just won.
- Rule. Hear both sides and all the facts; a judgment formed without accurate knowledge of the facts is worthless.
- Vindication. Mephibosheth is stripped without a hearing, but lies do not last. When the king comes home, the truth comes out.