Ziba, Saul's servant
David has Ziba serve Mephibosheth on behalf of Jonathan
David asked if there was anyone left of the house of Saul, that he may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake. Now there was a servant of the house of Saul, Ziba, and they called him to David. He told David of a son of Jonathan, crippled in his feet, who is staying in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.
David told Ziba that all that belonged to Saul and his house, he has given to his master's grandson, Mephibosheth. Ziba and his fifteen sons and twenty servants were to till the land and bring in produce so his master's grandson may eat. But Mephibosheth shall always eat at his table. Ziba agreed.
All who lived in Ziba's house became Mephibosheth's servants.
(2 Samuel 9)
Ziba presents a timely gift to David in exchange for his favor, though his master's property is a nice extra
When David passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, bearing 200 loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. David asked what they are for, and he said, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.” The king asked where his master's son was, and Ziba said, "Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.’” The king replied, "Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” And Ziba said, “I pay homage; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”
Ziba's story and gift makes himself look great and Mephibosheth look like an enemy. "Whatever Ziba intended in this present, God's providence sent it to David for his support very graciously. God makes use of bad men for good purposes to his people, and sends them meat by ravens." David seemed to believe it and made a rash judgment at Mephibosheth's detriment. "What immense damages do masters often sustain by the lying tongues of their servants!"
A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before the great. - Proverbs 18:16
A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers. - Proverbs 17:8
(Matthew Henry Bible Commentary (complete) - 2 Samuel 16 @ https://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary/mh/2-samuel/16)
Ziba the servant of the house of Saul rushed down to the Jordan before the king with his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They crossed the ford to bring over the king's household and do his pleasure. (2 Samuel 19:17-18)
When Mephibosheth met King David, he told him, "My lord, O king, my servant deceived me, for your servant said to him, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ For your servant is lame. He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God; do therefore what seems good to you. For all my father's house were but men doomed to death before my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right have I, then, to cry to the king?” David informed him he already decided to divide the land between him and Ziba, and Mephibosheth said, "Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home.” (2 Samuel 19:24-30)
Questions
Who is lying? Ziba? Mephibosheth? Both? None of them?
“Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.’” - 2 Samuel 16:3
He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. - 2 Samuel 19:27
Ziba claimed Mephibosheth planned to leverage Absalom's conspiracy to take back the kingdom of his father. Mephibosheth claimed Ziba saddled the donkey for himself to go with the king then slandered him to David.
Ziba came bearing gifts and flattery for David, and his story earned him all that belonged to Mephibosheth. Meanwhile, Mephibosheth came unkempt (hardly the look for a conspirator) with meek words of praise and lost half his holdings and offered to give back even that.
Ziba is first seen answering David's call for a member left of the house of Saul for whom he can show kindness for Jonathan's sake. He did not answer the call himself, he was suggested by others. When before the king, he directs him to Mephibosheth. When David sets them to till the land and ensure Mephibosheth always has bread to eat, he agrees to do all commanded. He's simply polite. It's hard to tell if he has ambition or not from this.
Ziba brings the timely gift of food, wine, and donkeys to David's army then says Mephibosheth is back in Jerusalem vying for the throne. David hands over all Mephibosheth's holdings, and Ziba pays homage. This can be sycophantic behavior, especially since he benefited, but if his words are true, it may make sense for him to lavishly support David's side against his conspiring master.
My social IQ isn't super high, but I only get suspicious vibes from him due to how much he benefited and how unlikely meek Mephibosheth is to have ever tried jumpstarting the Saulide dynasty again. If he's sneaky, he's held his cards close for a long time and jumped on the opportunity the second he saw it. Mostly from Ziba's story and the stories of Shimei the son of Gera and Sheba, the son of Bichri, I honestly just notice a pattern of messy drama coming out of the house of Benjamin against David that long outlived Saul.