2 Samuel 9:10 kjv
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.
2 Samuel 9:10 nkjv
You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master's son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master's son shall eat bread at my table always." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
2 Samuel 9:10 niv
You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master's grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table." (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
2 Samuel 9:10 esv
And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master's grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master's grandson shall always eat at my table." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
2 Samuel 9:10 nlt
You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master's household. But Mephibosheth, your master's grandson, will eat here at my table." (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
2 Samuel 9 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 20:14-15 | "But show me unfailing kindness like the LORD’s… do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—not even when the LORD has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth." | Jonathan's covenant, asking David for kindness to his offspring. |
| 1 Sam 20:42 | "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship to each other in the name of the LORD…" | The foundational covenant between David and Jonathan. |
| 2 Sam 4:4 | "(Mephibosheth) was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel… His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she hurried away, he fell and became crippled." | Context of Mephibosheth's disability and vulnerability. |
| 2 Sam 9:1 | "David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”" | David's initial intention and purpose. |
| Deut 7:9 | "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments." | God's faithfulness to His covenants, mirrored by David. |
| Psa 23:5 | "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…" | Divine provision and honored place, mirroring royal table. |
| Isa 55:3 | "Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David." | The eternal nature of God's covenant, reflected in David's. |
| Rom 5:8 | "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." | God's grace and kindness to the undeserving, like David to Mephibosheth. |
| Eph 2:4-5 | "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." | God's initiative in showing grace and mercy. |
| Eph 2:6 | "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus…" | Being seated with the King (Christ) in a place of honor. |
| Col 1:13 | "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son…" | Transference from a place of disadvantage/danger to honor/safety. |
| Gal 4:4-5 | "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son… to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship." | Spiritual adoption into God's family, mirroring Mephibosheth's royal adoption. |
| Rom 8:15-17 | "The Spirit you received does not make you slaves again… rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship… so you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, you are also an heir." | Believers as heirs, enjoying the privileges of God's family. |
| Rev 3:20 | "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." | Intimate fellowship, a meal with the Divine King. |
| Matt 25:34 | "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.'" | Inheritance from the King. |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." | God's comprehensive provision, mirroring the royal provision. |
| Luke 15:22-24 | "(The father said) 'Quick! Bring the best robe… Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again…'" | Restoration and feasting with a welcoming father, similar to Mephibosheth. |
| Isa 65:13 | "For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; my servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; my servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.'" | Contrast between those provided for by God and those who are not. |
| 1 Cor 10:21 | "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons." | The significance and exclusive nature of the "Lord's Table." |
| Luke 22:29-30 | "And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." | Christ's promise of intimate fellowship and co-reign with believers. |
2 Samuel 9 verses
2 Samuel 9 10 Meaning
This verse details David's generous decree concerning Mephibosheth, the sole surviving son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul. It commands Ziba, Saul's former servant, along with his family, to cultivate all of Saul's land which has now been restored to Mephibosheth. The produce of this land is to be brought to Mephibosheth for his sustenance. Critically, it then specifies a special provision: despite receiving the land's produce, Mephibosheth himself would "always eat at my table," signifying an intimate and honored place in the king's own household. This act illustrates David's commitment to his covenant with Jonathan and extends profound grace and favor to Mephibosheth, who, by ordinary custom, would have faced execution.
2 Samuel 9 10 Context
Chapter 9 of 2 Samuel records one of David's most notable acts of covenant fidelity and grace. Following his consolidation of power and having settled into his kingdom, David seeks to show "kindness" (Hebrew: chesed, steadfast love, mercy) to any remaining member of Saul's house, not out of political necessity or threat, but "for Jonathan's sake," honoring the sworn covenant between them (1 Sam 20:14-15).He finds Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, who is crippled in both feet (2 Sam 4:4). This physical impairment, combined with his lineage from the defeated house of Saul, typically would have marked him for execution in the Ancient Near East (ANE) to prevent any future challenge to David's throne. However, David’s actions directly contravene this practice, showcasing exceptional kindness. David restores to Mephibosheth all the land that belonged to Saul and his house, commissioning Ziba and his large household to manage it. This specific verse (2 Sam 9:10) solidifies Mephibosheth’s unique position, distinguishing between the practical provision from the land and the personal honor of eating regularly at the king's own table, as if he were one of David’s sons. This not only provided for his material needs but profoundly elevated his status, giving him a permanent place in the royal court, overturning his precarious past.
2 Samuel 9 10 Word analysis
- You (אַתָּה - 'attah): Refers to Ziba, Saul's former servant, whom David has designated to oversee the management of Saul's lands.
- and your sons and your servants (וּבָנֶיךָ וַעֲבָדֶיךָ - uvaneykha va'avadékha): This highlights the extensive workforce that Ziba commanded (fifteen sons and twenty servants, mentioned in v. 9). The responsibility of land management was a generational and communal effort.
- shall work (תַּעֲבֹד - ta'avod): From the root עָבַד ('avad), meaning "to serve, labor, cultivate, worship." Here, it specifically denotes the physical act of cultivating or farming the land. This labor is commanded as a service directed towards Mephibosheth’s well-being and by extension, King David’s decree.
- the land (הָאֲדָמָה - ha'adamah): Refers to all the landed property previously owned by Saul and his house. In ancient Israel, land ownership was central to identity, status, and economic sustenance. David is fully restoring this significant inheritance.
- for him (לוֹ - lo): Directly for Mephibosheth, confirming his ownership and benefit.
- and shall bring in (וְהֵבֵאתָ - v'heveta): A command for Ziba's household to collect and present the agricultural yield.
- the produce (הַתְּבוּאָה - hat'vu'ah): The agricultural yield or harvest from the cultivated land. This was the means of material provision.
- that your master's son (וְהָיָה לְבֶן אֲדֹנֶיךָ - v'haya l'ven adonekha): Referring to Mephibosheth, as Ziba’s new lord/master due to David’s decree.
- may have food to eat (לֶחֶם לֶאֱכוֹל - lechem le'echol): Literally "bread to eat," signifying provision for daily sustenance.
- but Mephibosheth your master's son (וּמְפִיבֹשֶׁת בֶּן־אֲדֹנֶיךָ - uMefiboshet ben-adonekha): Emphasizes the shift in authority over Mephibosheth, reconfirming his royal lineage, yet acknowledging his new "master" (David) and simultaneously his status as "lord" (to Ziba).
- shall always eat (יֹאכַל תָּמִיד - yo'khal tamid): The Hebrew tamid signifies "always, continually, regularly." This indicates an unbroken, constant privilege, not merely occasional invitation. This points to permanent inclusion and care.
- at my table (עַל שֻׁלְחָנִי - 'al shulchanî): Shulchan (table) symbolizes intimate fellowship, acceptance, and direct provision from the king himself. This is the profound aspect of David's kindness; Mephibosheth would not just be supported from his own lands but personally honored as one of the king's own sons, a family member.
Word-group Analysis
- "You and your sons and your servants shall work the land for him, and shall bring in the produce": This phrase details the practical aspect of David's provision. It establishes an economic structure where Mephibosheth, due to his inability and new status, is supported by a large household responsible for farming his ancestral lands. This ensures material provision and management of restored property.
- "that your master's son may have food to eat": This states the primary purpose of Ziba's agricultural labor: to provide sustenance for Mephibosheth. It frames the extensive efforts as direct service to Mephibosheth, elevating his status.
- "but Mephibosheth your master's son shall always eat at my table": This final clause highlights the ultimate display of David’s grace and mercy. The but indicates a significant contrast and elevation. While the land provides a practical living, eating at the king's table elevates Mephibosheth beyond a mere landowner. It signifies complete royal endorsement, intimate fellowship, security, honor, and adoption into the king’s immediate family, negating his physical disability and former outcast status. It symbolizes a personal, ongoing, and secure relationship with the reigning monarch, surpassing simple economic aid.
2 Samuel 9 10 Bonus section
The phrase "eat at my table" serves as a powerful metaphor throughout Scripture, often representing:
- Covenantal Fellowship: A shared meal frequently seals covenants or symbolizes deep, unbroken relationship.
- Royal Adoption/Favor: It means inclusion within the inner circle of the king's family, enjoying direct access, protection, and provision, overcoming any previous disadvantages (like Mephibosheth's lameness or enemy lineage).
- Security and Abundance: It implies freedom from want and fear, as the king's table is perpetually full and safe.
- Symbol of The Lord's Supper/Kingdom Feast: New Testament theology echoes this in the call to Christ's table (1 Cor 10:21), symbolizing intimate fellowship with the King of Kings, and anticipates the "marriage supper of the Lamb" (Rev 19:9) in God's eternal kingdom where believers will feast with Him. Mephibosheth, though crippled and of an opposing house, gains the highest honor and security through David's grace, foreshadowing how God, through Christ, lifts humanity from its spiritual brokenness and enmity, seating them in heavenly places (Eph 2:6).
2 Samuel 9 10 Commentary
2 Samuel 9:10 beautifully illustrates King David’s chesed, a steadfast love or mercy, motivated by his covenant with Jonathan rather than political expediency. It reveals a radical act of grace, setting David apart from typical ANE monarchs who would eradicate a deposed dynasty. Mephibosheth, being both of Saul's lineage and crippled, was doubly vulnerable. David not only restores all of Saul's extensive land to Mephibosheth but places him permanently at his own royal table. This act represents complete reversal of fortune – from feared extinction and possible beggary to royal privilege and honor. The distinction between provisioning from the land (a standard form of support) and dining at the king’s table (an act of adoption and deep fellowship) is crucial. It signifies Mephibosheth being treated as a son of David, rather than merely a recipient of David’s charity. This reflects God's own grace toward believers: bringing them from a state of spiritual brokenness and enmity into His family, granting them not just basic provision but an honored seat at His own table through Christ.