Shmuel Bais 16:2

2 And HaMelech said unto Tziva, What meanest thou by these? And Tziva said, The chamorim are for the Bais HaMelech to ride on; and the lechem and kayitz for the ne’arim to eat; and the yayin, that such as be faint in the midbar may drink.

Shmuel Bais 16:2 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 16:2

And the king said unto Ziba, what meanest thou by these?
&c.] Are they to be said, or are they presents?

and Ziba said, the asses [be] for the king's household to ride on;
for himself, his wives, and children, his courtiers, and the principal officers of his house; it being usual in those times and countries for great personages to ride on asses, see ( Judges 5:10 ) ;

and the bread and summer fruits for the young men to eat;
the king's menial servants, his guards and his soldiers:

and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink;
where no water was to be had, that their fainting spirits might be revived, and they be able whether to fight or march.

Shmuel Bais 16:2 In-Context

1 6 And when Dovid was a little past the top of the hill, hinei, Tziva the na’ar of Mephivoshet met him, with a couple of chamorim saddled, and upon them 200 lechem, and 100 bunches of tzimmukim, and 100 kayitz, and a skin of yayin.

2 And HaMelech said unto Tziva, What meanest thou by these? And Tziva said, The chamorim are for the Bais HaMelech to ride on; and the lechem and kayitz for the ne’arim to eat; and the yayin, that such as be faint in the midbar may drink.

3 And HaMelech said, And where is the ben adoneicha [i.e., Sa’ul grandson Mephivoshet]? And Tziva said unto HaMelech, Hinei, he abideth at Yerushalayim; for he said, Today shall Bais Yisroel restore to me the mamlechut avi.

4 Then said HaMelech to Tziva, Hinei, thine are all that pertained unto Mephivoshet. Tziva said, I humbly prostrate myself. May I find chen in thy sight, adoni, O Melech.

5 When Dovid HaMelech came to Bachurim, hinei, from there came out an ish of the mishpakhat Bais Sha’ul; shmo Shimei Ben Gera; and he, cursing continuously, came.