Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 9:7
And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
7. Fear not ] Mephibosheth might be afraid that David had only hunted him out to treat him after the common fashion of Oriental usurpers, who often put all their predecessor’s kindred to death. He seems to have lived in concealment at Lo-debar.
the land of Saul thy father ] Saul’s private estate at Gibeah, which passed into David’s possession when he came to the throne (ch. 2Sa 12:8). Father = grandfather, as frequently: so in 2Sa 9:9 son = grandson.
thou shalt eat bread at my table ] A common mark of honour in Oriental countries. See 1Ki 2:7; 2Ki 25:29. The physician Democedes, who cured Darius, was made “a member of the king’s table” ( , Herod. III. 132): and Histiaeus of Miletus was invited to come up to Susa, and be Darius’ “mess-companion” ( , Herod, v. 24).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 7. Will restore thee all the land] I believe this means the mere family estate of the house of Kish, which David as king might have retained, but which most certainly belonged, according to the Israelitish law, to the descendants of the family.
And thou shalt eat bread at my table] This was kindness, (the giving up the land was justice,) and it was the highest honour that any subject could enjoy, as we may see from the reference made to it by our Lord, Lu 22:30: That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. For such a person David could do no more. His lameness rendered him unfit for any public employment.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
All the land of Saul is now seized and possessed by David, as due to him, either in right of his wife, to whom the inheritance was devolved, Sauls sons by his wives being all dead; see Num 27:8; or by Divine donation, as belonging to the crown which God had now given him; or by forfeiture, because of Ish-bosheths rebellion against his lord and king.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And David said unto him, fear not,…. He might observe a dejection in his countenance, a trembling in his limbs, and might discover signs of fear lest David should cut him off, because he was of the seed royal:
for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake; whom he loved as his own soul, and to whom he had sworn that he would not cut off his kindness from his house for ever, and now remembering his oath was determined to observe it:
and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; his grandfather, such sometimes being called fathers; which David had taken to him, as crown lands, or in the right of his wife; or as being confiscated by Ishbosheth’s rebellion:
and thou shall eat bread at my table continually; he gave him an apartment in the court, a place at his table, admitted him to be a guest with him as long as he should live; which was a very great favour and high honour, and showed what an unshaken friendship he had for his father, and would maintain with him. This was the kindness of God he meant to show to him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
7. Restore thee all the land of Saul The private estate of Saul is doubtless meant, comprising both what fell to him by inheritance from Kish, and what he had himself acquired. “The landed property belonging to Saul had either fallen to David as crown lands, or had been taken possession of by distant relations after the death of Saul.” Keil.
Eat bread at my table Be a royal courtier, and receive the treatment and familiarity of a member of the royal family.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”
But David immediately reassured him and told him that he need not be afraid, because his intentions were good towards him. He intended ‘surely’ to show him kindness for Jonathan his father’s sake. Indeed he intended to restore to him all his family’s lands, and give him the privilege of eating at the king’s table permanently. He would become the king’s friend. Humanly speaking this was a huge risk. A Saulide who was wealthy and could gain influence at court could always be a danger, even if innocently. It is an indirect assertion of David’s confidence in YHWH.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
2Sa 9:7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
Ver. 7. And David said unto him, Fear not. ] Mephi-bosheth feared, belike, that he was sent for to be put to death, as being Saul’s nephew. Kings are not without their jealousies; that Mephi-bosheth well knew, and afterwards smarted for. 2Sa 16:4
For I will surely show thee kindness.
And will restore thee all the land.
And thou shalt eat bread at my table continually,
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
thy father’s sake. So with God’s grace to us; not for the sake of the lost one.
Saul thy father = Saul thy grandfather.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fear not: Gen 43:18, Gen 43:23, Gen 50:18-21, 1Sa 12:19, 1Sa 12:20, 1Sa 12:24, Isa 35:3, Isa 35:4, Mar 5:33, Mar 5:34, Luk 1:12, Luk 1:13, Luk 1:29, Luk 1:30
for I will: 2Sa 9:1, 2Sa 9:3, Rth 2:11, Rth 2:12, 2Ti 1:16-18
eat bread: 2Sa 9:11, 2Sa 19:28, 2Sa 19:33, 1Ki 2:7, Psa 41:9, Jer 25:33, Jer 25:34, Mat 6:11, Luk 22:30, Rev 3:20
Reciprocal: Exo 18:12 – eat bread 2Sa 2:6 – I also 2Sa 9:10 – shall eat bread 2Sa 9:13 – he did eat 2Ki 8:6 – Restore all 2Ki 25:29 – he did eat bread 1Ch 19:2 – I will show Neh 5:17 – at my table Est 8:2 – Esther set Jer 52:33 – he did Dan 5:2 – father Mat 25:40 – Inasmuch