the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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Bible Encyclopedias
Ziba
Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
or Zi´ba (statue), a servant of the house of Saul, of whom David inquired if there was anyone left of the house of Saul to whom the monarch might show favor. Mephibosheth was in consequence found, and having been certified of David's friendship, Ziba, who was at the head of a large family, having fifteen sons and twenty slaves, was appointed to till the land for the prince, and generally to constitute his household and do him service (). This position Ziba employed for his master's harm. When David had to fly from Jerusalem in consequence of the rebellion of Absalom, Ziba met the king with a large and acceptable present—'But where is Mephibosheth?' asked the fugitive monarch; 'in Jerusalem,' was the answer; 'for he said, Today shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.' Enraged at this, which looked like ingratitude as well as treachery, David thereupon gave to the faithless Ziba all the property of Mephibosheth (, sq.). On David's return to his metropolis an explanation took place, when Mephibosheth accused Ziba of having slandered him; and David, apparently not being perfectly satisfied with the defense, gave his final award, that the land should be divided between the master and his servant (, sq.).
Public Domain.
Kitto, John, ed. Entry for 'Ziba'. "Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature". https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/kbe/z/ziba.html.
