2 Samuel 9:10

Overview - 2 Samuel 9
David by Ziba sends for Mephibosheth.
For Jonathan's sake he entertains him at his table, and restores him all that was Saul's.
He makes Ziba his farmer.
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Samuel 9:10  (King James Version)
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.
 


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 MS. Note on 1 ; Ki 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. 2 Samuel 9:7 2 Samuel 9:11-13 ; 19:28 2 Kings 25:29 ; Luke 14:15