Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Samuel 16:3

3 And the king said, And where is thy masters son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father .

Which though it might seem a very unlikely thing, yet such vain Expectations do often get into the Minds of Men; nor was it impossible, that when David's Family was thus divided, and one part ingaged against another, they might destroy themselves by mutual Wounds; and the People being tired out with Civil Wars, might Restore the Kingdome to the Family of Saul their old Master, whereof this was the top-branch. And this was a time of general Defection of many whom the King had greatly obliged, witness Achitophel. And Mephibosheth's absence made the Calumny more probable.