Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice
of thine handmaid
She argues, that as she had hearkened unto him to the endangering of her life, it was but reasonable, and might be expected, that he would hearken to her in a case that would be to the preservation of his life:
and let me set a morsel of bread before thee, and eat, that thou mayest
have strength, when thou goest on thy way;
which she might urge, not merely out of respect to the king, but for her own sake, lest should he die in her house, she might be taken up, not only for a witch, but as being accessory to the death of the king; and therefore she moves, that he would take some food for refreshment of nature, that he might be able to depart her house, and go on his way to his army.