Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this Bible passage together. It's a really interesting and somewhat surprising verse from the book of Samuel! Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a situation where God is setting up a new king – David – in Israel. He wants to bless him with a prosperous kingdom, and he’s giving him a special arrangement for his family. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him…” : This is David telling everyone – including his own son, Mephibosheth – that they are responsible for working on the land for God. He’s basically saying, “You all need to work this land to help God.” It's a call to action and a way of showing respect to God’s plan. “…and thou shalt bring in [the fruits]…” : This is the key part! David says he wants his master’s son (who is Mephibosheth) to have food to eat. He wants him to enjoy a meal at his table. "Fruits" here refers to a plentiful harvest – something good and abundant. “That thy master’s son may have food to eat” : This is the core of the blessing. God is intentionally setting up this arrangement so that Mephibosheth’s son always has bread at his table. “But Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table.” : This is where it gets a little strange. God is giving Mephibosheth a special, preferential position – he’ll always have bread served to him! It's a way of showing kindness and blessing him more than the other sons. “Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.” : This tells us about the family involved. Ziba is one of Mephibosheth’s sons, and he has 15 sons and 20 servants. It establishes a larger family group. Overall Meaning & Significance: This passage highlights several important themes: God's Sovereignty: God is in control and making decisions for His people. He's establishing a plan that includes both blessing and favor. Divine Favor: There’s a clear emphasis on God’s love and generosity – He wants to bless Mephibosheth’s son, even if it means a slightly unusual arrangement. Unexpected Blessings: Sometimes, the most significant blessings come from unexpected places. It’s a reminder that God can work in ways we don't expect. In short, this verse is a story about a king setting up a blessing for his son and offering a special, preferential position to one of his servants. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of the verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific biblical story or theme?