Today's reading tells how David, whose deep friendship with King Saul's son Jonathan is recorded at length, virtually adopted Jonathan's son after he became king. Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth, had a physical handicap and could not walk. But David lavished attention on him -- allowing him to live with the riches of Saul (which David controlled) and granting him a seat at his dinner table, which was a sign of the king's personal favor and support. Undoubtedly, David did these things because of a debt he felt he owed to Mephibosheth's father, Jonathan, who had died in battle just before David became king.
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