Ziba
A servant of the house of Saul, summoned by David when he asked whether any of Saul's family remained to whom he could show kindness. Ziba named Mephibosheth, Jonathan's crippled son, and was appointed with his own sons and servants to farm the restored estate for him. When David fled from Absalom, Ziba met him with provisions and claimed his master had stayed behind hoping to regain the throne — and was granted everything Mephibosheth owned. On David's return Mephibosheth denied the story, and the king, unable to judge between them, divided the land.
Where in scripture
2 SamuelThere was of Saul’s house a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” He said, “I am your servant.”
2 Samuel 9:2 — Servant of the house of Saul
The king said, “Is there not yet any of Saul’s house, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan still has a son, who is lame in his feet.”
2 Samuel 9:3
The king said to him, “Where is he?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar.”
2 Samuel 9:4
Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s son.
2 Samuel 9:9
Till the land for him, you, your sons, and your servants. Bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have bread to eat; but Mephibosheth your master’s son will always eat bread at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
2 Samuel 9:10
Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table, like one of the king’s sons.
2 Samuel 9:11
Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. All that lived in Ziba’s house were servants to Mephibosheth.
2 Samuel 9:12
When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
2 Samuel 16:1
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
In their own words — 6 recorded sayings
“And the king said, Is there anyone of Saul's family still living, to whom I may be a friend in God's name? And Ziba said, There is a son of Jonathan, whose feet are damaged.” — 2 Samuel 9:3
“And the king said to him, Where is he? And Ziba said to the king, He is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.” — 2 Samuel 9:4
“Then Ziba said to the king, Every order which you have given to your servant will be done. As for Mephibosheth, he had a place at David's table, like one of the king's sons.” — 2 Samuel 9:11
“And David said to Ziba, What is your reason for this? And Ziba said, The asses are for the use of the king's people, and the bread and the fruit are food for the young men; and the wine is for drink for those who are overcome by weariness in the waste land.” — 2 Samuel 16:2
“And the king said, And where is your master's son? And Ziba said, He is still at Jerusalem: for he said, Today Israel will give back to me the kingdom of my father.” — 2 Samuel 16:3
“Then the king said to Ziba, Truly everything which was Mephibosheth's is yours. And Ziba said, I give honour to my lord, may I have grace in your eyes, my lord, O king!” — 2 Samuel 16:4
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).