Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
So you, your sons, and your servants will work the land for him and bring in the harvest, so that your master's son will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master's son, will always eat at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
King David is instructing Ziba to manage Mephibosheth's inherited land while ensuring Mephibosheth has a permanent place of honor at the royal table.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 2 Samuel, King David is fulfilling a promise to his late friend Jonathan by showing kindness to Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth, who was crippled and from the rival Saul's family. This occurs during David's established reign over Israel, a time when he was consolidating his kingdom and dealing with the aftermath of Saul's dynasty. Ziba, a servant from Saul's household, is assigned to work the land and provide for Mephibosheth, ensuring he has a place of honor at the king's table.
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