28. Dead men before my lord. In the usual course of events a king would have slain all the royal seed remaining of the dynasty being displaced, so that there might be no possibility of an attempt by any of them to regain the throne. But David had shown kindness to Mephibosheth, not only in permitting him to live, but in providing him with a share of the royal bounties. Although Mephibosheth had been wronged by Ziba, he offered not to complain, because David had previously been so kind to him.