2 samuel 16:1 - When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "2 samuel 16:1" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 16:1 describes an encounter between David, the fleeing king, and Ziba, a servant of Mephibosheth, grandson of the late King Saul. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"When David was a little past the top...": This refers to David's ascent over the Mount of Olives as he was fleeing Jerusalem due to the rebellion of his son Absalom. He was at a vulnerable and stressful point, having just left his capital.
"...behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him...": Ziba, who had previously been a servant in Saul's household, encounters David. Mephibosheth, being the surviving grandson of Saul, was a potential rival to David's throne.
"...with a couple of donkeys saddled...": Donkeys were common pack animals, indicating Ziba was bringing supplies. The fact that they were "saddled" means they were ready for riding.
"...and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.": This lists the generous provisions Ziba brought for David and his company. This food and drink would have been highly valuable and welcome to a king on the run with his followers.
Significance and Interpretation:
The immediate impression is that Ziba is providing much-needed aid to the fleeing king. However, the narrative doesn't explicitly state Ziba's motives. The subsequent verses reveal Ziba presents himself as loyal to David, and alleges that Mephibosheth is waiting in Jerusalem, hoping for the restoration of the kingdom of Saul.
Therefore, there are multiple possible interpretations:
1. Genuine Generosity: Ziba might be genuinely offering assistance to David in his time of need.
2. Opportunistic Loyalty: Ziba could be trying to gain favor with David by appearing generous and loyal, perhaps seeing Absalom's rebellion as an opportunity to advance his own position.
3. False Accusation: Ziba might be lying about Mephibosheth's intentions to slander him and gain favor with David by falsely portraying Mephibosheth as a traitor or disloyal.
David, caught in a difficult situation and likely desperate for support, readily accepts Ziba's gifts and believes his accusations against Mephibosheth. This decision has consequences later in the story.
The verse is a setup for the following interaction, where David's judgment is swayed by Ziba's apparent generosity and accusations against Mephibosheth. It highlights themes of loyalty, betrayal, political maneuvering, and the complexities of leadership during times of crisis. It serves as a reminder that things are not always as they seem, and even a king can be manipulated when vulnerable.
2 samuel 16:1 - When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
What does "2 samuel 16:1" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 16:1 describes an encounter between David, the fleeing king, and Ziba, a servant of Mephibosheth, grandson of the late King Saul. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"When David was a little past the top...": This refers to David's ascent over the Mount of Olives as he was fleeing Jerusalem due to the rebellion of his son Absalom. He was at a vulnerable and stressful point, having just left his capital.
"...behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him...": Ziba, who had previously been a servant in Saul's household, encounters David. Mephibosheth, being the surviving grandson of Saul, was a potential rival to David's throne.
"...with a couple of donkeys saddled...": Donkeys were common pack animals, indicating Ziba was bringing supplies. The fact that they were "saddled" means they were ready for riding.
"...and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.": This lists the generous provisions Ziba brought for David and his company. This food and drink would have been highly valuable and welcome to a king on the run with his followers.
Significance and Interpretation:
The immediate impression is that Ziba is providing much-needed aid to the fleeing king. However, the narrative doesn't explicitly state Ziba's motives. The subsequent verses reveal Ziba presents himself as loyal to David, and alleges that Mephibosheth is waiting in Jerusalem, hoping for the restoration of the kingdom of Saul.
Therefore, there are multiple possible interpretations:
1. Genuine Generosity: Ziba might be genuinely offering assistance to David in his time of need.
2. Opportunistic Loyalty: Ziba could be trying to gain favor with David by appearing generous and loyal, perhaps seeing Absalom's rebellion as an opportunity to advance his own position.
3. False Accusation: Ziba might be lying about Mephibosheth's intentions to slander him and gain favor with David by falsely portraying Mephibosheth as a traitor or disloyal.
David, caught in a difficult situation and likely desperate for support, readily accepts Ziba's gifts and believes his accusations against Mephibosheth. This decision has consequences later in the story.
The verse is a setup for the following interaction, where David's judgment is swayed by Ziba's apparent generosity and accusations against Mephibosheth. It highlights themes of loyalty, betrayal, political maneuvering, and the complexities of leadership during times of crisis. It serves as a reminder that things are not always as they seem, and even a king can be manipulated when vulnerable.