2Sa 4:4 | KD | STEP | Before the historian proceeds to describe what the two Beerothites did, he inserts a remark concerning Saul’s family, to show at the outset, that with the death of Ishbosheth the government of this family necessarily became extinct, as the only remaining descendant was a perfectly helpless cripple. He was a son of Jonathan, smitten (i.e., lamed) in his feet . He was five years old when the tidings came from Jezreel of Saul and Jonathan, i.e., of their death. His nurse immediately took him and fled, and on their hasty flight he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth (according to Simonis, for בשׁת מפאה, destroying the idol); but in and he is called Meribbaal (Baal’s fighter), just as Ishbosheth is also called Eshbaal (see at ). On his future history, see , 2Sa 16:1., and 2Sa 19:25.

‏ 2 Samuel 4:4

Before the historian proceeds to describe what the two Beerothites did, he inserts a remark concerning Saul’s family, to show at the outset, that with the death of Ishbosheth the government of this family necessarily became extinct, as the only remaining descendant was a perfectly helpless cripple. He was a son of Jonathan, smitten (i.e., lamed) in his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came from Jezreel of Saul and Jonathan, i.e., of their death. His nurse immediately took him and fled, and on their hasty flight he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth (according to Simonis, for בשׁת מפאה, destroying the idol); but in 1Ch 8:34 and 1Ch 9:40 he is called Meribbaal (Baal’s fighter), just as Ishbosheth is also called Eshbaal (see at 2Sa 2:8). On his future history, see 2Sa 9:1-13, 2Sa 16:1., and 2Sa 19:25.