The subject was the son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul. When word came that Saul and Jonathan had fallen in battle, his nurse fled with him, and in her haste he fell and was made lame in both feet.

He grew up in hiding at Lo-debar, an heir of a fallen house, expecting nothing but danger from the new king. But David, remembering his covenant with Jonathan, asked whether any of Saul's house remained to whom he might show kindness.

The subject was brought before David and fell on his face in fear. David told him not to fear, for he would show him kindness for Jonathan's sake, restore to him all the land of Saul, and set him to eat at the king's table always.

The subject called himself a dead dog, unworthy of such favor, yet from that day he ate at David's table like one of the king's own sons, though he remained lame in both feet.

When David fled during Absalom's revolt and was deceived about him by his servant Ziba, the subject met the returning king unkempt with mourning, caring nothing for the land, glad only that the king had come home in peace.