2 Samuel 19 29

2 Samuel 19:29 kjv

And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.

2 Samuel 19:29 nkjv

So the king said to him, "Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, 'You and Ziba divide the land.' "

2 Samuel 19:29 niv

The king said to him, "Why say more? I order you and Ziba to divide the land."

2 Samuel 19:29 esv

And the king said to him, "Why speak any more of your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land."

2 Samuel 19:29 nlt

"You've said enough," David replied. "I've decided that you and Ziba will divide your land equally between you."

2 Samuel 19 verses

2 Samuel 19 29 Meaning

This verse presents King David's decisive, somewhat abrupt, resolution to the dispute between Mephibosheth and Ziba over Mephibosheth's land. David interrupts Mephibosheth's earnest defense and explanation of his loyalty, declaring that there is no further need for discussion regarding the matter. He reiterates a pre-existing or immediately declared judgment that Mephibosheth and Ziba are to divide the land between them, thereby modifying his earlier decree which had given all the land to Ziba. It reflects David's desire for closure and expediency in handling complex disputes after a tumultuous period.

2 Samuel 19 29 Context

This verse occurs immediately after Mephibosheth's fervent explanation to King David regarding his whereabouts and true loyalty during Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam 19:24-28). Earlier, when David was fleeing Jerusalem, Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, had brought supplies to David and falsely accused Mephibosheth of remaining in Jerusalem with hopes of reclaiming Saul's kingdom (2 Sam 16:1-4). Believing Ziba's report, David had impulsively granted all of Mephibosheth's property to Ziba. Upon David's return, Mephibosheth appears in a state of mourning and disarray, directly countering Ziba's claims. David's response in verse 29 serves as his final, definitive word on the property dispute, coming across as a pragmatic rather than fully forensic judgment. The immediate historical context is David's restoration to the throne after the deeply traumatic civil war initiated by Absalom, a period requiring swift consolidation of power and resolution of internal disputes to stabilize the kingdom.

2 Samuel 19 29 Word analysis

• And the king said: Refers to David. The phrase highlights his authoritative role, indicating a formal declaration or judgment. David is no longer the fleeing, vulnerable leader but the monarch re-establishing his control.
• unto him, (`ʾēlāw`): Refers to Mephibosheth. It directly addresses him, focusing the king's attention and decree on Mephibosheth's prior words.
• Why speakest thou any more: (`lāmmāh təḏabbēr ʿôḏ`)
  • `lāmmāh` (לָמָּה): "Why?" A question conveying impatience, an end to debate.
  • `təḏabbēr` (תְדַבֵּר): "you speak," "you plead," or "you contend." From the root `dabar` (דָּבַר), which broadly means "to speak" or "to talk." In this context, it signifies a prolonged argument or pleading.
  • `ʿôḏ` (עֹד): "any more," "still," or "again." Indicates a cessation of an ongoing action. David implies that Mephibosheth has already said enough, and further explanation is unnecessary or undesired.
• of thy matters? (`dəḇāreḵā`): "your words," "your affairs," "your cases." The plural form of `dabar` here can encompass not just spoken words but also Mephibosheth's whole legal "case" or "affair" concerning his innocence and Ziba's deceit. David's intention is to cut off any further defense or explanation.
• I have said, (`ʾanî ʾāmartî`): "I myself have said." This is an emphatic declaration, affirming a definitive decision or a prior decree. It underlines the finality and authority of the king's word. The perfect tense implies a completed, irrevocable act of speaking.
• Thou and Ziba: Specific naming of the two parties involved in the land dispute, highlighting the direct command for both of them.
• divide: (`taḥləqû`) From the root `chalaq` (חָלַק), meaning "to divide," "to apportion," "to share." This verb is in the Qal imperative, but functions as a firm declarative command to them to execute the division. It shifts from David unilaterally granting land to a command for them to cooperatively share it, though under his royal authority.
• the land. (`et-haśśāḏeh`) "the field" or "the cultivated land." Refers to the ancestral property of Saul's house that David had previously restored to Mephibosheth (2 Sam 9:7) and then re-assigned to Ziba (2 Sam 16:4).

• Why speakest thou any more of thy matters?: This phrase indicates the king's weariness with the extended personal pleading and controversy. David seems to be closing the legal inquiry abruptly, prioritising swift resolution over thorough investigation or adjudication of Ziba's alleged treachery. This highlights the king's supreme authority, where his word is final even without complete transparency or satisfaction for all parties.
• I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land: This declaration constitutes a royal decree, binding upon both Mephibosheth and Ziba. It's a significant modification of David's earlier, perhaps hasty, decision to grant all of Mephibosheth's land to Ziba. By requiring a division, David implicitly acknowledges Mephibosheth's claim and perceived loyalty, yet does not fully revoke Ziba's previous reward, possibly out of a desire for balance or recognition of Ziba's earlier aid to him during the flight, however manipulative it may have been. The king's authority to alter, confirm, or deny land rights is absolute.

2 Samuel 19 29 Bonus section

This verse reflects the concept of absolute monarchy where the king's decree (the "word" or dabar from the root of dabar) functions as law, beyond dispute or appeal. Even if perceived as imperfect or a compromise, the king's judgment is final. It also underscores the weight and significance of testimony in ancient courts: the initial, unchallenged testimony often held sway until a counter-testimony emerged, but even then, the ruler had discretion to weigh the evidence and render a judgment, even if seemingly arbitrary or a 'split-the-difference' approach. The context further reveals the social value of land, representing livelihood and inheritance, and thus any ruling regarding it had profound consequences for the affected parties. The king, as the ultimate dispenser of justice and owner of all land, had the final say over its distribution and the resolution of such claims.

2 Samuel 19 29 Commentary

In 2 Samuel 19:29, King David cuts short Mephibosheth’s fervent appeal, demonstrating a desire to end a tiresome and complicated affair. His abrupt question, "Why speakest thou any more of thy matters?", signifies impatience and royal authority, demanding a halt to further discussion. David's preceding interactions with Mephibosheth suggest he at least partially recognized the truth of Mephibosheth’s loyalty. The previous, complete grant of land to Ziba (2 Sam 16:4) was likely based on a deceitful report during a time of extreme stress for David. By commanding that Mephibosheth and Ziba divide the land, David performs an act of Solomonic-like compromise, an attempt to dispense practical justice without fully re-investigating the initial false report or exposing the full extent of Ziba's manipulation. It could also be seen as David exercising his sovereign right to apportion land as he sees fit, reflecting his absolute judicial power, choosing expediency over meticulous legal process during the kingdom's reunification. It hints at the complex interplay of justice, political stability, and royal prerogative during times of transition.