Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 9:10
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 always at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
10. shall till the land ] This arrangement suggests that Ziba was already in occupation of the land, so that the only change to him would be that Mephibosheth would now receive the fruits instead of David.
that thy master’s son, &c.] Though Mephibosheth himself was to be a guest at the royal table, he would require the revenues of this estate for the support of his family and household. It may be inferred from the number of Ziba’s servants that they would be considerable.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Fifteen sons … – See 2Sa 19:17, marginal reference.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. Thou therefore, and thy sons – shall till the land] It seems that Ziba and his family had the care of the whole estate, and cultivated it at their own expense, yielding the half of the produce to the family of Mephibosheth. Ziba was properly the hind, whose duty and interest it was to take proper care of the ground, for the better it was cultivated the more it produced; and his half would consequently be the greater.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That thy masters son may have food to eat, i.e. that he may have wherewith to buy food for all his family, and all manner of provisions (which oft come under the title of food and bread) necessary for himself and them.
It is probable he had been the chief steward to manage Sauls lands; whereby he had great opportunities to enrich himself, which also he was very intent and resolved upon, either directly or indirectly, as the following history of him shows; and therefore it is not strange that he was so rich.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. Ziba had fifteen sons and twentyservantsThe mention of his sons and the slaves in his housewas to show that Mephibosheth would be honored with an equipage “asone of the king’s sons.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Thou therefore, thy sons, and thy servants,…. Which were many, and whose numbers are after given:
shall till the land for him; manure it, plough it, sow it, and reap it:
and thou shall bring in [the fruits]; the corn, and oil, and wine, the land produces:
that thy master’s son may have food to eat; meaning either Micha, the son of Mephibosheth, since Mephibosheth seems to be distinguished from him, and opposed to him in the next clause: and who would stand in no need of food from any other quarter, being a guest at the king’s table continually; or else Mephibosheth, who by this means would have a sufficiency for his son and servants, and in which Ziba’s family and servants would have a share:
but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat always at my table; wherefore the land was to be tilled not for him personally, but for his family, and for what uses he should think fit to put the produce of it to:
now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants: who were enough to cultivate a considerable quantity of land.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
‘Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.’
Note the emphasis on Ziba’s own grandeur. He had fifteen sons, and twenty servants. He was thus a man of position and prestige in his own right, and was well equipped to fulfil the king’s command.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
2Sa 9:10 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.
Ver. 10. Shall till the land for him. ] Hic Ziba instituitur colonus partiarius. Here Ziba is far intrusted, but he proved treacherous; being neither good egg nor good bird, as they say.
That thy master’s son may have food to eat.] That is, Food in his house for his family to eat, and enough besides to defray his other necessary charges; so Josephus.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
shall eat bread: The eating at courts was of two kinds; the one public and ceremonious, the other private. Sir John Chardin understands those passages which speak of a right to eat at the royal table, as pointing out a right to a seat there, when the repast was public and solemn. So in a manuscript Note on 1Ki 2:7, he tells us that it was to be understood of the majilis, (the term for an assembly of lords, or a public feast), and not of the daily and ordinary repast. Hence, though Mephibosheth was to eat at all public times at the king’s table, yet he would want the produce of his lands for food at other times, which it was necessary for Ziba to understand. 2Sa 9:7, 2Sa 9:11-13, 2Sa 19:28, 2Ki 25:29, Luk 14:15
Reciprocal: 2Sa 9:13 – he did eat 2Sa 16:3 – where is 2Sa 19:17 – Ziba 2Sa 21:7 – Mephibosheth 1Ch 8:34 – Meribbaal Jer 52:34 – there was Luk 22:30 – eat
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 9:10-13. Mephibosheth shall eat bread alway at my table Now David declares publicly what he had said privately to Mephibosheth. His family was to be maintained by the fruit of the estate that David gave him, though he himself was to eat always with David. And he was lame on both his feet Or, though he was lame, &c. This defect and blemish did not hinder him from being entertained by the king with the greatest kindness; which procured him, though despicable in his person, honour from the people, as one in great favour with the king.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
9:10 Thou therefore, and {e} 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.
(e) Be ye provident overseers and governors of his lands, that they may be profitable.