And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be 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.
The king asked Ziba, 'What do you mean by bringing all this?' Ziba replied, 'The donkeys are for the king's family to ride on, the bread and summer fruit are for your young men to eat, and the wine is for anyone who gets weak and thirsty in the wilderness.'
Ziba is explaining to King David that he brought supplies - donkeys for transportation, food for the men, and wine to refresh those who become exhausted in the desert.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during David's flight from Jerusalem when his son Absalom rebelled against him. Ziba was the servant of Mephibosheth (Jonathan's son), and he met David with these supplies as the king was escaping into the wilderness. This was a time of great political upheaval and personal betrayal for David.
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