2 Samuel 16:2

2 And the king said unto Ziba, "What meanest thou by these?" And Ziba said, "The asses are for the king's household to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink."

2 Samuel 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.

2 Samuel 16:2 In-Context

1 And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred bunches of raisins, and a hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

2 And the king said unto Ziba, "What meanest thou by these?" And Ziba said, "The asses are for the king's household to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink."

3 And the king said, "And where is thy master's son?" And Ziba said unto the king, "Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem; for he said, `Today shall the house of Israel restore to me the kingdom of my father.'"

4 Then said the king to Ziba, "Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth." And Ziba said, "I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king."

5 And when King David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came forth, and cursed constantly as he came.