Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son [who was] lame in [his] feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel; and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. His name [was] Mephibosheth.

"You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in [the harvest,] that your master's son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master's son shall eat bread at my table always." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

So the king said to Ziba, "Here, all that [belongs] to Mephibosheth [is] yours." And Ziba said, "I humbly bow before you, [that] I may find favor in your sight, my lord, O king!"

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?"

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

"Therefore you shall deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. Nevertheless, if there is iniquity in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?"

"but you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the LORD has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth."

Now Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

Then Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, 'May the LORD be between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants, forever.' " So he arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.

So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house.