2 Samuel 19:26
And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame. And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.
Mephibosheth was answering the king that his own servant had deceived him, for he had directed that a donkey be saddled so that he might ride on it and go with the king, but because he was lame he was unable to go on foot. The saying belongs to the closing and later history of David's reign, set amid the troubles connected with Absalom's rebellion, including David's flight, Absalom's death, David's lament, David's victory, and David's return to Jerusalem. It stands as one incident in the continuous history told in 2 Samuel 3 through 2 Samuel 20.
That history is the sad account of David's life after his wrongdoing toward Uriah, presented as retribution and judgments for that great transgression. It fulfilled Nathan's denunciation, with the consequences continuing through the rest of his life, especially within his family. The chapter in which the saying occurs also shows David's continuing kindness to the house of Saul. The account is told with a detailed faithfulness that marks it as inspired, showing that God does not hide the sins of even the greatest kings.