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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Second Samuel, Chapter IX].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>S E C O N D S A M U E L</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. IX.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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The only thing recorded in this chapter is the kindness David showed to
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Jonathan's seed for his sake.
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I. The kind enquiry he made after the remains of the house of Saul, and
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his discovery of Mephibosheth,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+9:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
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II. The kind reception he gave to Mephibosheth, when he was brought to
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him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+9:5-8">ver. 5-8</A>.
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III. The kind provision he made for him and his,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+9:9-13">ver. 9-13</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="2Sa9_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa9_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa9_4"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>David's Kindness to Jonathan's Son.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1039.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of
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Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
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2 And <I>there was</I> of the house of Saul a servant whose name
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<I>was</I> Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king
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said unto him, <I>Art</I> thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant <I>is he.</I>
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3 And the king said, <I>Is</I> there not yet any of the house of
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Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said
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unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, <I>which is</I> lame on <I>his</I>
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feet.
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4 And the king said unto him, Where <I>is</I> he? And Ziba said unto
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the king, Behold, he <I>is</I> in the house of Machir, the son of
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Ammiel, in Lodebar.
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5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of
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Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.
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6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul,
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was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And
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David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
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7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew
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thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore
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thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at
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my table continually.
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8 And he bowed himself, and said, What <I>is</I> thy servant, that
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thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I <I>am?</I>
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. David's enquiry after the remains of the ruined house of Saul,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+9:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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This was a great while after his accession to the throne, for it should
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seem that Mephibosheth, who was but five years old when Saul died, had
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now a son born,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+9:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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David had too long forgotten his obligations to Jonathan, but now, at
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length, they are brought to his mind. It is good sometimes to bethink
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ourselves whether there be any promises or engagements that we have
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neglected to make good; better do it late than never. The compendium
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which Paul gives us of the life of David is this
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:36">Acts xiii. 36</A>),
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that he <I>served his generation according to the will of God,</I> that
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is, he was a man that made it his business to do good; witness this
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instance, where we may observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. That he sought an opportunity to do good. He might perhaps have
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satisfied his conscience with the performance of his promise to
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Jonathan if he had been only ready, upon request or application made to
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him by any of his seed, to help and succour them. But he does more, he
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enquires of those about him first
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+9:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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and, when he met with a person that was likely to inform him, asked him
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particularly, <I>Is there any yet left of the house of Saul, that I may
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show him kindness?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+9:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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"Is there any, not only to whom I may do justice
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+5:8">Num. v. 8</A>),
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but to whom I may show kindness?" Note, Good men should seek
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opportunities of doing good. <I>The liberal deviseth liberal
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things,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+32:8">Isa. xxxii. 8</A>.
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For, the most proper objects of our kindness and charity are such as
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will not be frequently met with without enquiry. The most necessitous
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are the least clamorous.</P>
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<P>
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2. Those he enquired after were the remains of the house of Saul, to
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whom he would show kindness for Jonathan's sake: <I>Is there any left
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of the house of Saul?</I> Saul had a very numerous family
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+8:33">1 Chron. viii. 33</A>),
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enough to replenish a country, and was yet so emptied that none of it
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appeared; but it was a matter of enquiry, <I>Is there any left?</I> See
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how the providence of God can empty full families; see how the sin of
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man will do it. Saul's was a bloody house, no marvel it was thus
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reduced,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+21:1"><I>ch.</I> xxi. 1</A>.
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But, though God visited the iniquity of the father upon the children,
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David would not. "Is there any left that I can show kindness to, not
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for Saul's own sake, but for Jonathan's?"
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(1.) Saul was David's sworn enemy, and yet he would show kindness to
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his house with all his heart and was forward to do it. He does not say,
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"Is there any left of the house of Saul, that I may find some way to
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take them off, and prevent their giving disturbance to me or my
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successor?" It was against Abimelech's mind that any one was left of
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the house of Gideon
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+9:5">Judg. ix. 5</A>),
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and against Athaliah's mind that any one was left of <I>the seed
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royal,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+22:10,11">2 Chron. xxii. 10, 11</A>.
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Those were usurped governments. David's needed no such vile supports.
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He was desirous to show kindness to the house of Saul, not only because
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he trusted in God and feared not what they could do unto him, but
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because he was of a charitable disposition and forgave what they had
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done to him. Note, We must evince the sincerity of our forgiving those
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that have been any way unjust or injurious to us by being ready, as we
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have opportunity, to show kindness both to them and theirs. We must not
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only not avenge ourselves upon them, but we must love them, and <I>do
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them good</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+5:44">Matt. v. 44</A>),
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and not be backward to do any office of love and good-will to those
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that have done us many an injury.
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+3:9">1 Pet. iii. 9,</A>--
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<I>but, contrari-wise, blessing.</I> This is the way to overcome evil, and
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to find mercy for ourselves and ours, when we or they need it.
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(2.) Jonathan was David's sworn friend, and therefore he would show
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kindness to his house. This teaches us,
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[1.] To be mindful of our covenant. The kindness we have promised we
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must conscientiously perform, though it should not be claimed. God is
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faithful to us; let us not be unfaithful to one another.
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[2.] To be mindful of our friendships, our old friendships. Note,
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Kindness to our friends, even to them and theirs, is one of the laws of
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our holy religion. <I>He that has friends must show himself
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friendly,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+18:24">Prov. xviii. 24</A>.
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If Providence has raised us, and our friends and their families are
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brought low, yet we must not forget former acquaintance, but rather
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look upon that as giving us so much the fairer opportunity of being
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kind to them: then our friends have most need of us and we are in the
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best capacity to help them. Though there be not a solemn league of
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friendship tying us to this constancy of love, yet there is a sacred
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law of friendship no less obliging, that to him that is in misery pity
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should be shown by his friend,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+6:14">Job vi. 14</A>.
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<I>A brother is born for adversity.</I> Friendship obliges us to take
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cognizance of the families and surviving relations of those we have
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loved, who, when they left us, left behind them their bodies, their
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names, and their posterity, to be kind to.</P>
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<P>
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3. The kindness he promised to show them he calls the <I>kindness of
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God;</I> not only great kindness, but,
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(1.) Kindness in pursuance of the covenant that was between him and
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Jonathan, to which God was a witness. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+20:42">1 Sam. xx. 42</A>.
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(2.) Kindness after God's example; for we must be merciful as he is. He
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spares those whom he has advantage against, and so must we. Jonathan's
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request to David was
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+20:14,15">1 Sam. xx. 14, 15</A>),
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"<I>Show me the kindness of the Lord, that I die not,</I> and the same
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to my seed." The kindness of God is some greater instance of kindness
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than one can ordinarily expect from men.
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(3.) It is kindness done after a godly sort, and with an eye to God,
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and his honour and favour.</P>
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<P>
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II. Information given him concerning Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan.
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Ziba was an old retainer to Saul's family, and knew the state of it. He
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was sent for and examined, and informed the king that Jonathan's son
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was living, but <I>lame</I> (how he came to be so we read before,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+4:4"><I>ch.</I> iv. 4</A>),
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and that he lived in obscurity, probably among his mother's relations
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in Lo-debar in Gilead, on the other side Jordan, where he was
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<I>forgotten, as a dead man out of mind,</I> but bore this obscurity
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the more easily because he could remember little of the honour he fell
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from.</P>
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<P>
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III. The bringing of him to court. The king sent (Ziba, it is likely)
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to bring him up to Jerusalem with all convenient speed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+9:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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Thus he eased Machir of his trouble, and perhaps recompensed him for
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what he had laid out on Mephibosheth's account. This Machir appears to
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have been a very generous free-hearted man, and to have entertained
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Mephibosheth, not out of any disaffection to David or his government,
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but in compassion to the reduced son of a prince, for afterwards we
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find him kind to David himself when he fled from Absalom. He is named
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+17:27"><I>ch.</I> xvii. 27</A>)
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among those that furnished the king with what he wanted at Mahanaim,
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though David, when he sent for Mephibosheth from him, little thought
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that the time would come when he himself would gladly be beholden to
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him: and perhaps Machir was then the more ready to help David in
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recompence for his kindness to Mephibosheth. Therefore we should be
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forward to give, because we know not but we ourselves may some time be
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in want,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+11:2">Eccl. xi. 2</A>.
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<I>And he that watereth shall be watered also himself,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+11:25">Prov. xi. 25</A>.
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Now,</P>
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<P>
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1. Mephibosheth presented himself to David with all the respect that
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was due to his character. Lame as he was, <I>he fell on his face, and
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did homage,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+9:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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David had thus made his honours to Mephibosheth's father, Jonathan,
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when he was next to the throne
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+20:41">1 Sam. xx. 41</A>,
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<I>he bowed himself to him three times</I>), and now Mephibosheth, in
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like manner, addresses him, when affairs are so completely reversed.
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Those who, when they are in inferior relations, show respect, shall,
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when they come to be advanced, have respect shown to them.</P>
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<P>
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2. David received him with all the kindness that could be.
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(1.) He spoke to him as one surprised, but pleased to see him.
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"Mephibosheth! Why, is there such a man living?" He remembered his
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name, for it is probable that he was born about the time of the
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intimacy between him and Jonathan.
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(2.) He bade him not be afraid: <I>Fear not,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+9:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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It is probable that the sight of David put him into some confusion, to
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free him from which he assures him that he sent for him, not out of any
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jealousy he had of him, nor with any bad design upon him, but to show
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him kindness. Great men should not take a pleasure in the timorous
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approaches of their inferiors (for the great God does not), but should
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encourage them.
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(3.) He gives him, by grant from the crown, <I>all the land of Saul his
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father,</I> that is, his paternal estate, which was forfeited by
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Ishbosheth's rebellion and added to his own revenue. This was a real
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favour, and more than giving him a kind word. True friendship will be
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generous.
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(4.) Though he had thus given him a good estate, sufficient to maintain
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him, yet for Jonathan's sake (whom perhaps he saw some resemblance of
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in Mephibosheth's face), he will take him to be a constant guest at his
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own table, where he will not only be comfortably fed, but have company
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and attendance suitable to his birth and quality. Though Mephibosheth
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was lame and unsightly, and does not appear to have had any great
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fitness for business, yet, for his good father's sake, David took him
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to be one of his family.</P>
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<P>
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3. Mephibosheth accepts this kindness with great humility and
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self-abasement. He was not one of those that take every favour as a
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debt, and think every thing too little that their friends do for them;
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but, on the contrary, speaks as one amazed at the grants David made him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+9:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>):
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<I>What is thy servant, that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as
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I am?</I> How does he vilify himself! Though the son of a prince, and
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the grandson of a king, yet his family being under guilt and wrath, and
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himself poor and lame, he calls himself <I>a dead dog</I> before David.
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Note, It is good to have the heart humble under humbling providences.
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If, when divine Providence brings our condition down, divine grace
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brings our spirits down with it, we shall be easy. And those who thus
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humble themselves shall be exalted. How does he magnify David's
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kindness! It would have been easy to lessen it if he had been so
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disposed. Had David restored him his father's estate? It was but giving
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him his own. Did he take him to his table? This was policy, that he
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might have an eye upon him. But Mephibosheth considered all that David
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said and did as very kind, and himself as less than the least of all
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his favours. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+18:18">1 Sam. xviii. 18</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="2Sa9_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa9_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa9_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa9_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="2Sa9_13"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto
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him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to
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Saul and to all his house.
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10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till
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the land for him, and thou shalt bring in <I>the fruits,</I> that thy
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master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's
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son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons
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and twenty servants.
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11 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord
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the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As
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for Mephibosheth, <I>said the king,</I> he shall eat at my table, as
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one of the king's sons.
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12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name <I>was</I> Micha.
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And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba <I>were</I> servants unto
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Mephibosheth.
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13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat
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continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The matter is here settled concerning Mephibosheth.
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1. This grant of his father's estate is confirmed to him, and Ziba
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|
called to be a witness to it
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+9:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>);
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and, it should seem, Saul had a very good estate, for his father was a
|
|
mighty man of substance
|
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+9:1">1 Sam. ix. 1</A>),
|
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|
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and he had fields and vineyards to bestow,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+22:7">1 Sam. xxii. 7</A>.
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Be it ever so much, Mephibosheth is now master of it all.
|
|
|
|
2. The management of the estate is committed to Ziba, who knew what it
|
|
was and how to make the most of it, in whom, having been his father's
|
|
servant, he might confide, and who, having a numerous family of sons
|
|
and servants, had hands sufficient to be employed about it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+9:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
|
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Thus Mephibosheth is made very easy, having a good estate without care,
|
|
and is in a fair way of being very rich, having much coming in and
|
|
little occasion to spend, himself being kept at David's table. Yet he
|
|
must have food to eat besides his own bread, provisions for his son and
|
|
servants; and Ziba's sons and servants would come in for their share of
|
|
his revenue, for which reason perhaps their number is here mentioned,
|
|
<I>fifteen sons and twenty servants,</I> who would require nearly all
|
|
there was; <I>for as goods are increased those are increased that eat
|
|
them, and what good has the owner thereof save the beholding of them
|
|
with his eyes?</I>
|
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|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+5:11">Eccl. v. 11</A>.
|
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|
<I>All that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants to
|
|
Mephibosheth</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+9:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
that is, they all lived upon him, and made a prey of his estate, under
|
|
pretence of waiting on him and doing him service. The Jews have a
|
|
saying, "He that multiplies servants multiplies thieves." Ziba is now
|
|
pleased, for he loves wealth, and will have abundance. "As <I>the king
|
|
has commanded, so will thy servant do,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+9:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Let me alone with the estate: and <I>as for Mephibosheth</I>" (they
|
|
seem to be Ziba's words), "if the king please, he need not trouble the
|
|
court, <I>he shall eat at my table,</I> and be as well treated <I>as
|
|
one of the king's sons.</I>" But David will have him at his own table,
|
|
and Mephibosheth is as well pleased with his post as Ziba with his. How
|
|
unfaithful Ziba was to him we shall find afterwards,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+16:3"><I>ch.</I> xvi. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now because David was a type of Christ, his Lord and son, his root and
|
|
offspring, let his kindness to Mephibosheth serve to illustrate the
|
|
kindness and love of God our Saviour towards fallen man, which yet he
|
|
was under no obligation to, as David was to Jonathan. Man was
|
|
convicted of rebellion against God, and, like Saul's house, under a
|
|
sentence of rejection from him, was not only brought low and
|
|
impoverished, but lame and impotent, made so by the fall. The Son of
|
|
God enquires after this degenerate race, that enquired not after him,
|
|
comes to seek and save them. To those of them that humble themselves
|
|
before him, and commit themselves to him, he restores the forfeited
|
|
inheritance, he entitles them to a better paradise than that which Adam
|
|
lost, and takes them into communion with himself, sets them with his
|
|
children at his table, and feasts them with the dainties of heaven.
|
|
<I>Lord, what is man, that thou shouldst thus magnify him!</I></P>
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