Zia (Hastings' Dictionary)

A Gadite, I Ch 5" (BA ZoCe, Luc. 7.ta). ZIBA (X?", "?» in 2 S 10< ; B 2ei/jd, A ZL^i. and in 2 S lO'S-H ili^/id ; Silnt). — A servant or slave (■>?>•) of the house of Saul (2 S i)2). The Thilistino inviusion, which was so fatal to his m<a.ster's house, probably gave him his liberty (cf, Jos. Ant. vii. V. 5), and he comes on the scene at the head of a 980 ZIBEON ZIDOX household of his o«Ti, consisting of 15 sons and 20 slaves (2 S 9'").

He is consulted b}- David, who wishes for Jonathan's sake to show kindness to any surviving representative of the house of Saul, and informs the king of the existence of Mepiiibosheth, Jonathan's lame son, in the ob- scurity of Lo-debar (2 S 9^-*). When David there- upon receives Mephibosheth into his own house as a permanent guest, and confers upon him the estate wliich had belonfjed to Saul, Ziba is appointed Me- phibosheth's land -steward (2 S Q"- '»).

At a later period, Ziba dexterously turns Absalom's rebel- lion and Mephibosheth's weakness to his personal account. To display his own loyalty, he fetches David a large supply of provisions during the latter's flight across the Mount of Olives, and at the same time, apparently without anj' grounds, accuses his master of having gone o\er to the enemy in the hope of obtaining the kingdom of Saul. For this sinister service Ziba is rewarded with a grant of all Mephibosheth's property (2 S le'"*).

When the rebellion is stamped out, and the king returns to Jerusalem, Mephibosheth is able to rebut the false charges made against him by his treacherous servant. The king might justly punish Ziba, but in the hour of victory he is in a conciliatory mood. If Ziba has not been faithful to his master, he has at any rate been loyal and serviceable to his king.

David accordingly contents liimself with restoring half the property of Saul to Mephiboshetli and confirming Ziba in the possession of the other half (2 S IQ, ""*^). J. Steachan. ZIBEON (pv:s)-— Gn SG^- "•»•".» i Ch l^s- " (Sffif^ci^ except 1 Ch 1^ A Zf^^nit,). See Anah.