Bible Strands
2 Samuel 9:10
You and your sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David commands Ziba to cultivate Saul’s former estate and deliver the harvest to sustain Mephibosheth. This directive follows immediately after David grants Ziba stewardship over the late king’s property.
The words — The command hinges on עָבַדְתָּ ('a.Vad.ta), meaning "you will work," and הָאֲדָמָה (ha.'a.da.Mah), meaning "the land." These terms anchor the royal decree in agricultural labor and land management.
The thread — The provision fulfills David’s earlier pledge to extend kindness for Jonathan’s sake (2 Samuel 9:7) and aligns with Mephibosheth’s later confession of unworthiness (2 Samuel 19:28). Ziba’s compliance and Mephibosheth’s permanent seat at the royal table (2 Samuel 9:11) operationalize the arrangement.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to see that covenant loyalty operates through concrete labor and sustained provision, not abstract goodwill. It places the burden of practical care on the steward while reserving the beneficiary’s security at the king’s table.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 9:7 “Do not be afraid,” said David, “for surely I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
- 2 Samuel 19:28 For all the house of my grandfather deserves death from my lord the king, yet you have set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right, then, do I have to keep appealing to the king?”
- 2 Samuel 9:11 And Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all that my lord the king has commanded.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s own sons.
- 2 Kings 25:29 So Jehoiachin changed out of his prison clothes, and he dined regularly at the king’s table for the rest of his life.
- Luke 14:15 When one of those reclining with Him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is everyone who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”