2 Samuel 9:10

“Thou therefore, thy sons, and thy servants, etc.] 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…”

“Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants--The mention of his sons and the slaves in his house was to show that Mephibosheth would be honored with an equipage "as one of the king's sons."”

“Fifteen sons ... - See 2 Samuel 19:17, marginal reference. return to 'Top of Page'”

“shall eat bread: The eating at courts was of two kinds; the one public and ceremonious, the other private. Sir John Chardin understands those passages which speak of a right to eat at the royal table, as pointing out a right to a seat there, when the repast was public and solemn. So in a manuscript Note on Kg1 2:7, he tells us that it was to be understood of the majilis, (the term for an assembly of lords, or a public feast), and not of the daily and ordinary repast. Hence, though Mephibosheth was to eat at all public times at the king's table, yet he would want the produce of his lands for food at other times, which it was necessary for Ziba to understand. Sa2 9:7, Sa2 9:11-13, Sa2 19:28;…”