SIBA
Servant or slave of Saul. He was delivered (Ant. 7:5, 5), and became the father of a large family, his having his own servants (2 Sam. 9:10). By order of David, Ziba, his sons, and his servants were to serve Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, and cultivate his land (2 Sam. 9:9-12).
When Absalom’s revolt pushed David to abandon Jerusalem, Ziba went to meet him with two donkeys loaded with provisions for the king. He told David that Mephibosheth had remained in Jerusalem hoping to regain the kingdom from Saul.
David then declared that Mephibosheth’s property would go to Ziba (2 Sam. 16:1-4). After Absalom’s death, when David was crossing the Jordan to return to Jerusalem, Ziba and his household came to welcome the king (2 Sam. 19:17).
Mephibosheth, as a sign of mourning, had neglected his person during the entire time of the king’s absence. He went before him, complaining of having been the victim of Siba’s slander. David gave her half of his land, leaving the rest to Ziba (2 Samuel 24-30).