MIPHIBOSETH. - Only son of Jonathan (v.) whose name was originally (v. ISBOSETH) Miphibos' al ("from the mouth of the Lord"). He was five years old when his father died, and on that day he fell from the arms of his nurse as she fled, remaining crippled forever (II Sam. 4:4). He lived for many years, unknown to all, at Lodabar, in Transjordan (II Sam. 9:4). Taken from his retirement and summoned to court by David (mindful of Jonathan's friendship), he recovered all the lands that had belonged to Saul and became, despite his humble protests, a perpetual guest at the King's table (II Sam. 9).At the time of Absalom's revolt, M. intended to abandon the capital in the company of David; but he was prevented from doing so by his servant Ziba, who further slandered him to the King as a partisan of the rival. And David, believing him, transferred all his goods to Ziba (II Sam. 16:1-4). Only upon David's return could he defend his own innocence; nor did he take it amiss that only half of his goods were restored to him, for, he said, the return of the King was enough for him (II Sam. 19:24-30). Everything suggests a gentle and generous character, such as Jonathan's had been. Nothing is known of his end: a son, Mica, continued his line (I Chron. 8:35; 9:41).
Another M., son of Saul and Rizpah, was sacrificed by David to the vengeance of the Gibeonites (II Sam. 21:8).
Gino Bressan