2 Samuel 9:10

10 operare igitur ei terram tu et filii tui et servi tui et inferes filio domini tui cibos ut alatur Mifiboseth autem filius domini tui comedet semper panem super mensam meam erant autem Sibae quindecim filii et viginti servi

2 Samuel 9:10 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 9:10

Thou therefore, thy sons, and thy servants
Which were many, and whose numbers are after given:

shall till the land for him;
manure it, plough it, sow it, and reap it:

and thou shall bring in [the fruits];
the corn, and oil, and wine, the land produces:

that thy master's son may have food to eat;
meaning either Micha, the son of Mephibosheth, since Mephibosheth seems to be distinguished from him, and opposed to him in the next clause: and who would stand in no need of food from any other quarter, being a guest at the king's table continually; or else Mephibosheth, who by this means would have a sufficiency for his son and servants, and in which Ziba's family and servants would have a share:

but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat always at my table;
wherefore the land was to be tilled not for him personally, but for his family, and for what uses he should think fit to put the produce of it to:

now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants:
who were enough to cultivate a considerable quantity of land.

2 Samuel 9:10 In-Context

8 qui adorans eum dixit quis ego sum servus tuus quoniam respexisti super canem mortuum similem mei
9 vocavit itaque rex Sibam puerum Saul et dixit ei omnia quaecumque fuerunt Saul et universam domum eius dedi filio domini tui
10 operare igitur ei terram tu et filii tui et servi tui et inferes filio domini tui cibos ut alatur Mifiboseth autem filius domini tui comedet semper panem super mensam meam erant autem Sibae quindecim filii et viginti servi
11 dixitque Siba ad regem sicut iussisti domine mi rex servo tuo sic faciet servus tuus et Mifiboseth comedet super mensam tuam quasi unus de filiis regis
12 habebat autem Mifiboseth filium parvulum nomine Micha omnis vero cognatio domus Siba serviebat Mifiboseth
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.