Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 16:3
And the king said, And where [is] thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, Today shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
3. thy master’s son ] Mephibosheth is called the son, i.e. grandson, of Ziba’s lord Saul in ch. 2Sa 9:9. David was hurt by Mephibosheth’s apparent ingratitude.
for he said, To day, &c.] That Ziba was calumniating Mephibosheth is sufficiently obvious. How could Mephibosheth, an insignificant cripple, who had never claimed the crown, or taken any part in politics, expect to be made king, even in the confusion of parties which might ensue upon Absalom’s rebellion? Ziba’s story was an audacious fiction, invented in the hope of getting a grant of the estate which he was cultivating for Mephibosheth’s benefit, and in spite of its improbability, it passed muster in the haste and confusion of the moment.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Thy masters son – Meaning Sauls grandson 2Sa 9:6. David asks the question, evidently hurt at the apparent ingratitude of Mephibosheth. It is impossible to say whether Mephibosheth was quite guiltless or not. If Ps. 116 was composed by David, and after the quelling of Absaloms rebellion, 2Sa 16:11 may contain Davids confession of his present hasty judgment 2Sa 16:4 in the matter.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. To-day shall the house of Israel] What a base wretch was Ziba! and how unfounded was this accusation against the peaceable, loyal and innocent Mephibosheth!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
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 Davids family was thus divided, and one part engaged against another, they might destroy themselves by mutual wounds; and the people being tired out with civil wars, might restore the kingdom 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 Ahithophel. And Mephibosheths absence made the calumny more probable.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. To-day shall the house of Israelrestore me the kingdom of my fatherSuch a hope might notunnaturally arise at this period of civil distraction, that thefamily of David would destroy themselves by their mutual broils, andthe people reinstate the old dynasty. There was an air ofplausibility in Ziba’s story. Many, on whom the king had conferredfavors, were now deserting him. No wonder, therefore, that in theexcitement of momentary feeling, believing, on the report of aslanderer, Mephibosheth to be among the number, he pronounced a rashand unrighteous judgment by which a great injury was inflicted on thecharacter and interests of a devoted friend.
2Sa16:5-19. SHIMEI CURSESDAVID.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the king said, and where [is] thy master’s son?…. The son of Saul, who was Ziba’s master, meaning Mephibosheth:
and Ziba said unto the king, behold, he abideth at Jerusalem; as there was reason for it, since he was lame of both his feet, 2Sa 9:13, though he could have rode upon an ass, and followed the king, as he proposed to do; but his servant deceived him, and carried off the asses to serve a purpose for himself, see 2Sa 19:26;
for he said, today shall the house of Israel restore unto me the kingdom of my father; his father Saul; which was far from his thoughts; and a most wicked suggestion of his servant to blacken his character, and get his estate from him; nor was there the least probability of the kingdom coming to him, but all the reverse; for let it go how it would with David, Absalom, and not Mephibosheth, stood fair for the kingdom.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. Restore me the kingdom of my father This was a base slander of Ziba’s own devising, designed by him to secure the favour of the king, and the possessions of Mephibosheth. Compare 2Sa 19:24-30.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Sa 16:3 And the king said, And where [is] thy master’s 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.
Ver. 3. For he said, Today shall the house of Israel. ] A shameless and senseless slander, uttered by a false and faithless informer, who would, in all likelihood, have been as ready to murder his master, if the king had pleased, as now he was to deceive him. See Eze 22:9 . Plato commendeth that law of the Lydians, that punisheth slanderers like as they did murderers.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
he said. This was slander. See 2Sa 19:24-30, and compare the two Structures.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
where is: 2Sa 9:9, 2Sa 9:10, Psa 88:18, Mic 7:5
day: 2Sa 19:24-30, Exo 20:16, Deu 19:18, Deu 19:19, Psa 15:3, Psa 101:5, Pro 1:19, Pro 21:28, 1Ti 6:9, 1Ti 6:10, Jud 1:11
Reciprocal: Exo 23:1 – shalt not 2Sa 19:26 – I will saddle 2Sa 19:27 – slandered
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 16:3-4. He said, To-day shall the house of Israel restore me, &c. This was a fiction, but not badly contrived; for the family of David being so divided, and one part enraged against another, it was possible they might destroy one another by mutual wounds; and the people, being tired out by civil wars, might think of restoring the kingdom to the family of Saul their former sovereign, of which family Mephibosheth was the principal branch. Then said the king, Behold, thine are all that pertained to Mephibosheth A rash sentence, and unrighteous, to condemn a man unheard upon the single testimony of his accuser and servant. But Davids mind was both clouded by his trouble, and biased by Zibas great and seasonable kindness. And he thought, probably, Ziba would not dare accuse his master, except on good grounds, of so great a crime as that of being a traitor, which, if false, might be so easily disproved. Ziba said, that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king Thus he hypocritically pretends to value the kings favour more than the gift he had bestowed upon him.