And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
Today shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. Such a hope might not unnaturally arise at this period of civil distraction, that the family of David would destroy themselves by their mutual broils, and the people reinstate the old dynasty. There was an air of plausibility in Ziba's story. Many on whom the king had conferred favours were now deserting him; no wonder therefore, that in the excitement of momentary feeling, believing, on the report of a slanderer, Mephibosheth to be among the number of the rebels, he pronounced a rash and unrighteous judgment, by which a great injury was inflicted on the character and interests of a devoted friend.