II Shmuel 9: The Curious Case of the Dead Dog Metaphor

YINR 929: Tanach Yomi · Sep 15, 2026 · 3m

David made a promise to Jonathan that he would watch over his descendants (וְלֹא־תַכְרִית אֶת־חַסְדְּךָ מֵעִם־בֵּיתִי עַד־עוֹלָם) (I Samuel 20:15). He searches the land for any remaining descendants and is told there is only a young, handicapped boy who is left. Earlier in the book, in an aside, the Navi explained that Mephiboshet’s legs were broken when his maidservant dropped him in shock after hearing about the death of Shaul and Jonathan (וַתִּשָּׂאֵהוּ אֹמַנְתּוֹ וַתָּנֹס וַיְהִי בְּחׇפְזָהּ לָנוּס וַיִּפֹּל וַיִּפָּסֵחַ) (II Samuel 4:4). Although Mephiboshet could have been in line…