2 Samuel 19:25
New International Version
When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”

New Living Translation
“Why didn’t you come with me, Mephibosheth?” the king asked him.

English Standard Version
And when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

Berean Standard Bible
And he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, who asked him, “Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?”

King James Bible
And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?

New King James Version
So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

New American Standard Bible
And it was when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

NASB 1995
It was when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

NASB 1977
And it was when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

Amplified Bible
And when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

Christian Standard Bible
When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Mephibosheth, why didn’t you come with me? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Mephibosheth, why didn’t you come with me?"”

American Standard Version
And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?

English Revised Version
And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, "Why didn't you go with me, Mephibosheth?"

Good News Translation
When Mephibosheth arrived from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, "Mephibosheth, you didn't go with me. Why not?"

International Standard Version
When he arrived from Jerusalem to greet the king, the king asked him, "So why didn't you come with me, Mephibosheth?"

Majority Standard Bible
And he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, who asked him, “Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?”

NET Bible
When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, "Why didn't you go with me, Mephibosheth?"

New Heart English Bible
And it happened when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, "Why did you not go with me, Mippibaal?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, Why didst thou not go with me, Mephibosheth?

World English Bible
When he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why didn’t you go with me, Mephibosheth?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and it comes to pass, when he has come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king says to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

Young's Literal Translation
and it cometh to pass, when he hath come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king saith to him, 'Why didst thou not go with me, Mephibosheth?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And it will be when he came to Jerusalem to the meeting of the king, and the king will say to him, Wherefore wentest thou not with me, Mephibosheth?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he met the king at Jerusalem, the king said to him: Why camest thou not with me, Miphiboseth?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when he had met the king at Jerusalem, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

New American Bible
When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, “Why did you not go with me, Meribbaal?”

New Revised Standard Version
When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it came to pass, when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when he came to Jerusalem to the meeting of the King, the King said to Maphibshath: “Why did you not go with me?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him: 'Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass when he went into Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, Why didst thou not go with me, Memphibosthe?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Mephibosheth Excused
24Then Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king had left until the day he returned safely. 25And he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, who asked him, “Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?” 26“My lord the king,” he replied, “because I am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me,…

Cross References
2 Samuel 9:6-8
And when Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell facedown in reverence. Then David said, “Mephibosheth!” “I am your servant,” he replied. / “Do not be afraid,” said David, “for surely I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” / Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?”

2 Samuel 16:1-4
When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. / “Why do you have these?” asked the king. Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.” / “Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’” ...

2 Samuel 9:1-5
Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?” / And there was a servant of the house of Saul named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king inquired, “Are you Ziba?” “I am your servant,” he replied. / So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I can show the kindness of God?” Ziba answered, “There is still Jonathan’s son, who is lame in both feet.” ...

2 Samuel 16:17-19
“Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?” / “Not at all,” Hushai answered. “For the one chosen by the LORD, by this people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will remain. / Furthermore, whom should I serve if not his son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.”

2 Samuel 9:9-13
Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. / You and your sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. / And Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all that my lord the king has commanded.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s own sons. ...

1 Kings 2:7
But show loving devotion to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, because they stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

2 Samuel 15:30-37
But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went. / Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!” / When David came to the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head. ...

2 Samuel 16:5-14
As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses. / He threw stones at David and at all the servants of the king, though the troops and all the mighty men were on David’s right and left. / And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed! ...

2 Samuel 19:17-18
along with a thousand men of Benjamin, as well as Ziba the steward of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan before the king / and crossed at the ford to carry over the king’s household and to do what was good in his sight. When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell down before the king

2 Samuel 19:29-30
The king replied, “Why say any more? I hereby declare that you and Ziba are to divide the land.” / And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Instead, since my lord the king has safely come to his own house, let Ziba take it all!”

2 Samuel 19:24
Then Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king had left until the day he returned safely.

2 Samuel 19:26-27
“My lord the king,” he replied, “because I am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me, / and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. Yet my lord the king is like the angel of God, so do what is good in your eyes.

2 Samuel 19:28
For all the house of my grandfather deserves death from my lord the king, yet you have set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right, then, do I have to keep appealing to the king?”

2 Samuel 19:31-32
Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and send him on his way from there. / Barzillai was quite old, eighty years of age, and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the king while he stayed in Mahanaim.

2 Samuel 19:33-38
The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.” / But Barzillai replied, “How many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? / I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? ...


Treasury of Scripture

And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, Why went not you with me, Mephibosheth?

Wherefore

2 Samuel 16:17
And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

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2 Samuel 19
1. Joab causes the king to cease his mourning
9. The Israelites are earnest to bring the king back
11. David sends to the priest to incite them of Judah
18. Shimei is pardoned
24. Mephibosheth excused
32. Barzillai dismissed, and Chimham his son taken into the king's family
41. The Israelites expostulate with Judah for bringing home the king without them














When he came to Jerusalem
This phrase sets the scene in the capital city of Israel, Jerusalem, which holds significant historical and spiritual importance. Jerusalem, known as the City of David, was the political and religious center of the nation. The Hebrew root for Jerusalem, "Yerushalayim," suggests meanings of "foundation of peace" or "teaching of peace," reflecting its intended role as a place of divine presence and governance. The city's mention here underscores the gravity of the meeting and the reconciliation process that is about to unfold.

to meet the king
Meeting the king, in this context, refers to Mephibosheth's encounter with King David. The Hebrew word for "meet," "qara," implies a purposeful encounter, often with significant implications. In ancient Near Eastern culture, meeting a king was a momentous event, often involving formalities and expressions of loyalty or submission. This meeting is crucial as it represents Mephibosheth's opportunity to explain his absence and reaffirm his allegiance to David.

the king asked him
The king, David, is the central figure in this narrative. His inquiry is not just a casual question but a probing into the loyalty and intentions of Mephibosheth. The Hebrew verb "sha'al," translated as "asked," can also mean to inquire or demand an explanation, indicating the seriousness of David's question. This reflects David's role as a just ruler seeking to understand the truth behind Mephibosheth's actions during Absalom's rebellion.

Why did you not go with me
David's question addresses the heart of the issue: Mephibosheth's absence during a critical time. The phrase "go with me" implies a call to loyalty and support. In the Hebrew context, accompanying a king, especially during times of crisis, was a demonstration of allegiance and solidarity. David's question reveals his expectation of loyalty from those he had shown kindness to, highlighting the relational dynamics between a king and his subjects.

Mephibosheth?
Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul, is a significant character in this narrative. His name, which can mean "dispeller of shame" or "from the mouth of shame," reflects his complex identity and the challenges he faced as a member of the former royal family. Mephibosheth's relationship with David is marked by grace and covenant loyalty, as David had previously shown him kindness for Jonathan's sake. This moment is pivotal for Mephibosheth to clarify his position and intentions to David, amidst the political turmoil following Absalom's rebellion.

(25) Wentest not thou with me?--David had heard and believed the story of Mephibosheth's ingratitude and treachery (2Samuel 16:3-4), and his present remonstrance is so gentle and kindly as to show that Mephibosheth's appearance at once produced an impression, and suggested in David's mind a doubt of the truth of what Ziba had told him.

Verse 25. - When he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king. This certainly looks as if the meeting took place at Jerusalem, and apparently when David had reached the royal palace (see ver. 30). But what, then, is meant in ver. 24 by his "going down" to meet the king? If, too, he had been at Jerusalem all the while, how could he come there? Some, therefore, translate, "Then Jerusalem came to meet the king" - a possible, but not a natural, rendering, nor one that agrees with ver. 30. Others consider that he had withdrawn to his house in the highlands of Benjamin at Gibeah of Saul; but David had given these lands to Ziba, and the crippled Mephibesheth would have met with rough treatment had he endeavoured to contest the ownership. The Arabic Version reads. "when he came from Jerusalem;" but it is not confirmed by any trustworthy authorities. The view of Kimchi is probably right, that Mephibosheth did go down to the Jordan fords to meet David, and certainly his duty required of him no less. He had been slandered and ill used, but the king believed him to be guilty, and regarded him with displeasure. To have remained, therefore, at home when all Judah and half Israel had gone to welcome David back, would have been culpable remissness. And though he was lame, yet the ride was not so long as to be very fatiguing. But he did not rush through the river, as Shimei and his thousand men had done; and when David had crossed, there was too much going on for him to get an audience. He followed, therefore, in David's suite; but in Jerusalem the meeting actually took place. Thus the verses briefly record different facts: ver. 24 that Mephibosheth went with the vast crowd to welcome the king back; ver. 25 that in due time, in Jerusalem, the explanation was given, and Mephibosheth restored to favour.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And
וַיְהִ֛י (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

he came
בָ֥א (ḇā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

from Jerusalem
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

to meet
לִקְרַ֣את (liq·raṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7125: Against he come, help, meet, seek, to, in the way

the king,
הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

[who]
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

asked
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

him,
לוֹ֙ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

“Mephibosheth,
מְפִיבֹֽשֶׁת׃ (mə·p̄î·ḇō·šeṯ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4648: Mephibosheth -- 'dispeller of shame'

why
לָ֛מָּה (lām·māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

did you not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

go
הָלַ֥כְתָּ (hā·laḵ·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

with me?”
עִמִּ֖י (‘im·mî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with


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OT History: 2 Samuel 19:25 It happened when he was come (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 19:24
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