שמואל ב, פרק ט׳, פסוק ה׳

King David takes the initiative to extend an act of profound kindness, actively seeking out the hidden remnants of Saul's family. He sends for Mephibosheth with a dual purpose in mind. First, he intends to restore all the lands that once belonged to Saul. Second, he plans to elevate Mephibosheth with a special mark of honor, granting him a permanent seat to dine at the royal table [אברבנאל].

The name of the hiding place from which Mephibosheth is brought serves as a reflection of his character and exposes the lies of his servant, Ziba. Ziba had tried to present Mephibosheth as an empty man, lacking any wisdom or Torah knowledge. Yet, David finds the very opposite. Rather than being devoid of knowledge, Mephibosheth proves to be a dedicated scholar, entirely filled with the wisdom of the Torah [חומת אנך].

The exact identity of Mephibosheth is a matter of discussion. One approach suggests that he was actually David's primary teacher, a man with whom the king regularly consulted. Conversely, others argue that the unfolding events do not match the way a king would treat his esteemed teacher. According to this second view, the man brought before David is actually Saul's son, widely known as Ish-bosheth [חומת אנך].