Ziba

Biblical Account

Telling David of Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9)

For the sake of Jonathan, David wished to show kindness to anyone who remained of the house of Saul. The man summoned on this occasion was Ziba, a servant of the house of Saul (2 Samuel 9:2). Ziba reported that Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, who was lame in his feet, was living in the house of Machir in Lo-debar. David restored all of Saul's land to Mephibosheth and commanded Ziba to till that land and bring in its produce. The text records that Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants (2 Samuel 9:10).

During Absalom's Rebellion (2 Samuel 16)

When David fled Jerusalem because of the rebellion of Absalom, Ziba met the king with two saddled donkeys laden with bread, raisins, summer fruits, and wine. When David asked where Mephibosheth was, Ziba answered that he had stayed in Jerusalem, saying, "To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father." On hearing this, David gave all that belonged to Mephibosheth to Ziba (2 Samuel 16:1–4).

At David's Return (2 Samuel 19)

After the rebellion ended, Ziba went down to the Jordan River with his sons and servants to meet the king (2 Samuel 19:17). Mephibosheth also came out to meet the king. From the day the king had departed, he had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes. Mephibosheth pleaded that he had intended to go with the king, but that his servant had deceived him, a lame man, and had slandered him. David ruled, "Thou and Ziba divide the land." Mephibosheth replied that since the king had returned in peace, Ziba might take it all (2 Samuel 19:24–30).

Significance Within the Bible

Ziba serves as a link in the narrative of David showing kindness in keeping with his covenant with Jonathan. At the same time, he is one party to the conflict over who had remained loyal to the king amid the turmoil of the rebellion. The New Testament does not mention Ziba.

Interpretation and Debate

The text does not state directly whether Ziba or Mephibosheth was telling the truth. Many commentators regard Mephibosheth as the more credible of the two, citing his appearance as a mourner and his willingness to give up the land, and they read Ziba as a man who slandered his master for personal gain. Other readings, however, hold that the text deliberately leaves the question open and note that Ziba's gifts did in fact help David during his flight. David's ruling that the land be divided is also interpreted in different ways. Some see it as a pragmatic compromise reached in a situation where the truth was difficult to determine; others see it as an inadequate judgment colored by political calculation.

In rabbinic Jewish tradition, the Talmud is said to treat this ruling critically. It holds that David accepted the slander, and it adds the interpretation that because of his words about dividing the land, the kingdom was later divided between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. This is a later interpretation rather than part of the biblical text itself.

Ziba should be distinguished from figures with similar names. Sheba the son of Bichri, who led a revolt in 2 Samuel 20, and the Queen of Sheba, who visited Solomon, are different people from Ziba.

In the Korean Church

In the Korean church, Ziba is mentioned chiefly in sermons on the Mephibosheth narrative of 2 Samuel 9. These sermons present Mephibosheth, who came to eat at the king's table, as an illustration of God's unconditional grace. Sermons on 2 Samuel 16 and 19 frequently contrast Ziba's conduct, as an example of slander and self-interest, with Mephibosheth's attitude, as an example of selfless loyalty.