2 Samuel 9:9-10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 9:9-13

The matter is here settled concerning Mephibosheth. 1. This grant of his father's estate is confirmed to him, and Ziba called to be a witness to it (2 Sam. 9:9); and, it should seem, Saul had a very good estate, for his father was a mighty man of substance (1 Sam. 9:1), and he had fields and vineyards to bestow, 1 Sam. 22:7. Be it ever so much, Mephibosheth is now master of it all. 2. The management of the estate is committed to Ziba, who knew what it was and how to make the most of it, in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 9:9

Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant ,.... Who had been his servant: and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son ; meaning either, as some, the son of Mephibosheth, Micha after mentioned; or rather Mephibosheth himself, the grandson of Saul, whose servant Ziba had been: all that pertained to Saul, and to all his house ; all his paternal estate, or what he had acquired, or in any wise belonged to him and his family; which David had in possession, and which he readily... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 9:10

Thou therefore, thy sons, and thy servants ,.... 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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 9:9

I have given unto thy master ' s son - Unless Ziba had been servant of Jonathan, this seems to refer to Micha, son of Mephibosheth, and so some understand it; but it is more likely that Mephibosheth is meant, who is called son of Saul instead of grandson. Yet it is evident enough that the produce of the land went to the support of Micha, (see 2 Samuel 9:10 ;), for the father was provided for at the table of David; but all the patrimony belonged to Mephibosheth. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 9:10

Thou therefore , and thy sons - shall till the land - It seems that Ziba and his family had the care of the whole estate, and cultivated it at their own expense, yielding the half of the produce to the family of Mephibosheth. Ziba was properly the hind, whose duty and interest it was to take proper care of the ground, for the better it was cultivated the more it produced; and his half would consequently be the greater. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 9:1-13

The facts are: 1 . David, remembering his love for Jonathan, inquires whether there were any survivors of the house of Saul; and being informed of the proximity of Ziba, an old servant, he sends for him. 2 . He is told that a son of Jonathan, lame of foot, is a sojourner in the house of Machir. 3 . Being sent for, Mephibosheth, on appearing before the king, falls on his face and pays reverence, but is spoken to kindly. 4 . Being assured by David that there was no need for fear,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 9:5-13

( THE KING 'S PALACE .) Mephibosheth before the king. We have here a picture of— I. EXTRAORDINARY VICISSITUDES IS LIFE . A prince by birth, deprived of his father, crippled by a heedless footstep, carried into exile and poverty, recently a helpless dependent in a remote district, is conducted into the presence of one who was once a shepherd boy, afterwards a wandering outlaw, and now the greatest monarch on earth! Such changes: 1 . May be largely, though not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 9:9

Thy master's son. Strictly Mephibosheth was Saul's grandson, but words of relationship are used in a very general way in Hebrew. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 9:10

That thy master's son may have food to eat. Instead of "son," Hebrew ben , some commentators prefer the reading of a few Greek versions, namely, "house," Hebrew, beth. But the difficulty which they seek to avoid arises only from extreme literalness of interpretation. Though Mephibosheth ate at the king's table, he would have a household to maintain—for he had a wife and son—and other expenses; and his having "food to eat" includes everything necessary, as does our prayer for "daily... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 9:9

Saul’s servant - Josephus calls him one of Saul’s freedmen. The difference this would make in Ziba’s position would only be that instead of paying in the fruits of the confiscated land to David, he would have to pay them to Mephiboseth. read more

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