2 Samuel 9:11

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, [said the king], he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Tziva said to the king, "Your servant will do everything my lord the king commands his servant, although M'fivoshet has been eating at my table as one of the king's descendants."

Berean Standard Bible:

And Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all that my lord the king has commanded.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s own sons.

American Standard Version:

Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king commandeth his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Then said^{H559} Ziba^{H6717} unto the king^{H4428}, According to all that my lord^{H113} the king^{H4428} hath commanded^{H6680} his servant^{H5650}, so shall thy servant^{H5650} do^{H6213}. As for Mephibosheth^{H4648}, said the king, he shall eat^{H398} at my table^{H7979}, as one^{H259} of the king's^{H4428} sons^{H1121}.

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Commentary for 2 Samuel 9:11

2 Samuel 9:11 is a verse that captures a moment of loyalty and kindness within the historical narrative of King David's reign over Israel. The verse is part of a larger chapter that details the story of Mephibosheth, the crippled son of David's dear friend Jonathan. After the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, David sought to show kindness to any remaining members of Saul's family, in keeping with his covenant with Jonathan.

In this verse, Ziba, a servant of the house of Saul, is speaking to King David. Ziba has just been informed that he and his family will serve Mephibosheth and that Mephibosheth will be treated as one of David's own sons, dining at the king's table. Ziba's response, "According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do," reflects his acceptance of David's command and his willingness to obey.

The themes present in this verse include loyalty, mercy, and covenant faithfulness. David's act of bringing Mephibosheth into his own family's dining arrangements is a powerful symbol of acceptance and restoration, transcending political expediency and demonstrating David's commitment to his covenant with Jonathan. It also highlights the importance of caring for the disabled and marginalized in society, as Mephibosheth was lame in both feet.

Historically, this event would have occurred during David's established reign, after he had consolidated his power and was seeking to rule justly and honor the commitments he had made earlier in his life. The inclusion of this story in the Bible serves to illustrate David's character as a man who honors his word and who extends grace to his enemies' descendants, thereby setting a standard for leaders to care for their people and to act with integrity.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
2. Strong's Number: H6717
   There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צִיבָא
   Transliteration: Tsîybâʼ
   Pronunciation: tsee-baw'
   Description: from the same as צוֹבָא; station; Tsiba, an Israelite; Ziba.
   
3. Strong's Number: H4428
   There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: melek
   Pronunciation: meh'-lek
   Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
   
4. Strong's Number: H113
   There are 337 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָדוֹן
   Transliteration: ʼâdôwn
   Pronunciation: aw-done'
   Description: or (shortened) אָדֹן; from an unused root (meaning to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine); lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with 'Adoni-'.
   
5. Strong's Number: H6680
   There are 475 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צָוָה
   Transliteration: tsâvâh
   Pronunciation: tsaw-vaw'
   Description: a primitive root; (intensively) to constitute, enjoin; appoint, (for-) bid, (give a) charge, (give a, give in, send with) command(-er, -ment), send a messenger, put, (set) in order.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5650
   There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֶבֶד
   Transliteration: ʻebed
   Pronunciation: eh'-bed
   Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
8. Strong's Number: H4648
   There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מְפִיבֹשֶׁת
   Transliteration: Mᵉphîybôsheth
   Pronunciation: mef-ee-bo'-sheth
   Description: or מְפִבֹשֶׁת; probably from פָּאָה and בֹּשֶׁת; dispeller of shame (i.e. of Baal); Mephibosheth, the name of two Israelites; Mephibosheth.
   
9. Strong's Number: H398
   There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָכַל
   Transliteration: ʼâkal
   Pronunciation: aw-kal'
   Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite.
   
10. Strong's Number: H7979
    There are 62 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֻׁלְחָן
    Transliteration: shulchân
    Pronunciation: shool-khawn'
    Description: from שָׁלַח; a table (as spread out); by implication, a meal; table.
    
11. Strong's Number: H259
    There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶחָד
    Transliteration: ʼechâd
    Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
    Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,
    
12. Strong's Number: H1121
    There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בֵּן
    Transliteration: bên
    Pronunciation: bane
    Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.