2 Samuel 16:1

1 When David had gone a little beyond the top of the hill, he was suddenly met by Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, who had with him a couple of donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred bunches of fresh fruit, and a leather bag full of wine. 1

2 Samuel 16:1 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 16:1

And when David was a little past the top [of the hill]
Of the mount of Olives, the ascent of which he is said to go up by, and to come to the top of it, ( 2 Samuel 15:30 2 Samuel 15:32 ) ;

behold, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, met him;
of whom see ( 2 Samuel 9:2 ) ;

with a couple of asses saddled:
and so fit to ride on, but for the present he used them to another purpose:

and upon them two hundred [loaves] of bread;
an hundred on each ass very probably:

and an hundred bunches of raisins;
or dried grapes, as the Targum: and an hundred of summer fruits:
not in number, but in weight, as apples, pears, plums, apricots so the Targum, an hundred pounds of figs: and a bottle of wine:
a cask or flagon of wine; for a bottle, such as is in use with us, would have signified nothing in such a company.

2 Samuel 16:1 In-Context

1 When David had gone a little beyond the top of the hill, he was suddenly met by Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, who had with him a couple of donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred bunches of fresh fruit, and a leather bag full of wine.
2 King David asked him, "What are you going to do with all that?" Ziba answered, "The donkeys are for Your Majesty's family to ride, the bread and the fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is for them to drink when they get tired in the wilderness."
3 "Where is Mephibosheth, the grandson of your master Saul?" the king asked him. "He is staying in Jerusalem," Ziba answered, "because he is convinced that the Israelites will now restore to him the kingdom of his grandfather Saul."
4 The king said to Ziba, "Everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is yours." "I am your servant," Ziba replied. "May I always please Your Majesty!"
5 When King David arrived at Bahurim, one of Saul's relatives, Shimei son of Gera, came out to meet him, cursing him as he came.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 16.1 2 Samuel 9.9, 10.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.