Ziba

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Originally a servant or slave of the house of Saul. When Mephibosheth was invited to the court of David, and the possessions of Saul were made over to him, Ziba was instructed with his fifteen sons and twenty servants, to manage the estates for Mephibosheth. This subordinate service may have been galling to Ziba's pride, and may account for his after conduct. On the insurrection of Absalom, Ziba went with provisions for David, and said that Mephibosheth, hoping to have the kingdom restored to him, had remained in Jerusalem. Whereupon David gave to Ziba all the inheritance of Mephibosheth. On David's return Mephibosheth declared that Ziba had deceived him and slandered him to the king, and the sacred historian says Mephibosheth had neglected his person and his clothes all the while that David had been from Jerusalem. Having given all that was Mephibosheth's to Ziba, David now divided the possessions between the two. Nothing more is recorded of Ziba.  2 Samuel 9:2-12;  2 Samuel 16:1-4;  2 Samuel 19:17,29 .

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

ZIBA . A servant, probably a freedman, of Saul. He appears before David (  2 Samuel 9:1-11 ), possessing 15 sons and 20 servants, and is consulted as to the existence of any members of the house of Saul. He informs David of the retreat of Mephibosheth , to whom David restores the lands of his father and appoints Ziba steward. On David’s flight from Jerusalem (  2 Samuel 16:1-4 ) Ziba followed him with provisions, and accused Mephibosheth of treachery. He received a grant of his master’s lands, but on David’s return Mephibosheth was able to clear himself and was allowed to retain a half (  2 Samuel 19:24-30 ).

W. F. Boyd.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Zi'ba. (Statue). A servant of Saul whom David made steward of Saul's son, Mephibosheth.  2 Samuel 9:2-18;  2 Samuel 16:1-4;  2 Samuel 19:17;  2 Samuel 19:29. See Mephibosheth . (B.C. 1023).

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A rich steward of Saul, whom David charged with similar duties towards Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan,  2 Samuel 9:2-10 . By a false representation David was induced to transfer to Ziba the lands he had given to Mephibosheth, but afterwards divided them between the two, being convinced that he had acted hastily, and unable to decide with certainty for either,  2 Samuel 16:1-4;  19:24-30 .

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

A servant of Saul's house, according to Josephus (Ant. 7:5, Section 5) a freedman of Saul. He had 15 sons and 20 servants ( 2 Samuel 9:10;  2 Samuel 16:1-4;  2 Samuel 19:17;  2 Samuel 19:29). (For the rest (See Mephibosheth ).

Holman Bible Dictionary

 2 Samuel 9:1-8 2 Samuel 9:9-13 2 Samuel 16:1-4 2 Samuel 19:24-29

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 2 Samuel 9:2

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

zı̄´ba ( ציבא , cı̄bhā' , צבא , cibhā' (  2 Samuel 16:4 ), meaning unknown; Σειβᾶ , Seibá ): A former servant or probably dependent of Saul's house ( 2 Samuel 9:1 ff), who was brought to David when the king inquired if there was not a member of Saul's family that he could show kindness to (compare David's oath to Jonathan in   1 Samuel 20:14 ff). Ziba tells David of Mephibosheth (Meribbaal), Jonathan's son, who is thereupon taken to the king from Lodebar, East of the Jordan, and given Saul's estate. Ziba is also bidden to till the land and bring in its produce, and "it shall be food for thy master's son," according to Massoretic Text in   2 Samuel 9:10; but the Septuagint and Lucian have a better reading, "thy master's household." Mephibosheth himself is to eat at David's table. Ziba is to be assisted in this by his sons and servants; he had 15 sons and 20 servants ( 2 Samuel 9:10 ).

When David has to leave Jerusalem at the time of Absalom's revolt, Ziba ( 2 Samuel 16:1-4 ) takes two asses for members of the king's household to ride on, and 200 loaves and 100 clusters of raisins as provisions for the youths. When asked where Mephibosheth is, he accuses his master of remaining behind purposely in hopes that his father's kingdom would be restored to him. David then confers upon Ziba his master's estate.

After Absalom's death, David sets out to return to Jerusalem from Mahanaim, East of Jordan. Ziba with his sons and servants, as we are told in a parenthesis in  2 Samuel 19:17 ,  2 Samuel 19:18 (Hebrew verses 18, 19a), by means of a ferry-boat goes backward and forward over Jordan, and thus enables the king's household to cross. But he has wrongly accused his master of treacherous lukewarmness toward David, for Mephibosheth meets the king on his return journey to Jerusalem (  2 Samuel 19:24-30 (Hebrew verses 25-31)) with signs of grief. When he is asked why he had not joined the king at the time of the latter's flight, he answers that Ziba deceived him, "for thy servant said to him, Saddle me (so read in   2 Samuel 19:26 (Hebrew text, verse 27) with Septuagint and Syriac for Massoretic Text 'I will have saddled me') the ass." He then accuses Ziba of falsehood, and David divides the estate between the two, although Mephibosheth is quite willing that Ziba should retain the whole of it.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Tsiba', צַיבָא [briefly צַבָא .,  2 Samuel 16:4], Plantation [Fü rst], or Statue. [Gesen.]; Sept. Σιβά v.r. Σιββά; Josephus, Σιβάς; Vulg. Siba ), a person who plays a prominent part, though with doubtful credit to himself, in one of the episodes of David's history ( 2 Samuel 9:2-12;  2 Samuel 16:1-4;  2 Samuel 19:17;  2 Samuel 19:29). He had been a slave (עֶבֶד ) of the house of Saul before the overthrow of his kingdom, and (probably at the time of the great Philistine incursion which proved so fatal to his master's family) had been set free (Josephus, Ant. 7: 5, 5). It was of him that David inquired if there was any one left of the house of Saul to whom the monarch might show favor. B.C. 1044. Mephibosheth was in consequence found, and having been certified of David's friendship, Ziba was appointed to till the land for the prince, and generally to constitute his household and do him service ( 2 Samuel 9:2-10). The opportunities thus afforded him he had so far improved that when first encountered in the history he is head of an establishment of fifteen sons and twenty slaves. David's reception of Mephibosheth had the effect of throwing Ziba with his whole establishment back into the state of bondage from which he had so long been free. It reduced him from being an independent landholder to the position of a mere dependent. 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 Ziba all the property of Mephibosheth ( 2 Samuel 16:1 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 ( 2 Samuel 19:24 sq.). B.C. 1023. (See Mephibosheth).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

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.).