Mephibosheth

Mephibosheth (meaning from my mouth proceeds reproach, or a scribal alteration of the original Meribbaal, contender with Baal) was the son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul. He became lame in both feet as a child of five when his nurse dropped him while fleeing the news of Saul and Jonathan's deaths at Jezreel (2 Samuel 4:4). David, honoring his covenant with Jonathan, sought out surviving members of Saul's house to show covenant kindness (hesed), and found Mephibosheth living in Lo-debar under the care of Machir son of Ammiel.

David restored to Mephibosheth all the lands of Saul his grandfather, seated him permanently at the royal table as one of the king's sons (2 Samuel 9), and gave him Ziba as a servant to work the land. The episode is a celebrated illustration of grace: the lame, forgotten son of the king's friend is raised from obscurity and given royal honor not for his own merit but solely because of his father. Mephibosheth's later conduct during Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 16:1–4; 19:24–30) is complicated by conflicting claims between him and his servant Ziba.