Mephibosheth was the son of Jonathon, a friend of David, who became King of Israel. He was the only offspring left in the house of Saul, his grandfather and the old King. He could not walk, and the tradition of the time would have called for David to kill Mephibosheth due to his ancestry. However, David treated him like an honoured guest, giving him protection and all the property that had belonged to his grandfather.