2 Samuel 9:7

7 David said to him, "Do not fear, for ¹I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and ²will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and ³you shall eat at my table regularly."

2 Samuel 9:7 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 9:7

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.

2 Samuel 9:7 In-Context

5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.

6 Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and prostrated himself. And David said, "Mephibosheth." And he said, "Here is your servant!"

7 David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly."

8 Again he prostrated himself and said, "What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?"

9 Then the king called Saul's servant Ziba and said to him, "All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Samuel 9:1, 3
• 2. 2 Samuel 12:8
• 3. 2 Samuel 19:28; 1 Kings 2:7; 2 Kings 25:29

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "field"
• [b]. Lit "father"
• [c]. Lit "eat bread"