26He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame.27He has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is as an angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes.28For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should cry any more to the king?”
29The king said to him, “Why do you speak any more of your matters? I say, you and Ziba divide the land.”
26 He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king,’ because your servant is lame.
27 He has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is as an angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes.
28 For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should cry any more to the king?”
29 The king said to him, “Why do you speak any more of your matters? I say, you and Ziba divide the land.”
KJVKing James Version
26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.
27 And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.
28 For all of my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?
29 And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.
Show all 3 translations
JPSJPS Tanakh (1917)
26 (19-27) And he answered: 'My lord, O king, my servant deceived me; for thy servant said: I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go with the king; because thy servant is lame.
27 (19-28) And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God; do therefore what is good in thine eyes.
28 (19-29) For all my father's house were deserving of death at the hand of my lord the king; yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet? or why should I cry any more unto the king?'
29 (19-30) And the king said unto him: 'Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I say: Thou and Ziba divide the land.'
2 Samuel 9:13(v28)So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem; for he ate continually at the king’s table. He was lame in both his feet.
2 Samuel 14:17(v27)Then your servant said, ‘Please let the word of my lord the king bring rest; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good…
2 Samuel 14:20(v27)Your servant Joab has done this thing to change the face of the matter. My lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to…
1 Samuel 29:9(v27)Achish answered David, “I know that you are good in my sight, as an angel of God. Notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said,…
2 Samuel 9:10(v28)Till the land for him, you, your sons, and your servants. Bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have bread to eat; but…
Show all 23 cross-references
2 Samuel 16:3(v27)The king said, “Where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the house of…
Jeremiah 9:4(v27)“Everyone beware of his neighbor, and don’t trust in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go…
Psalms 101:5(vv27, 29)I will silence whoever secretly slanders his neighbor. I won’t tolerate one who is arrogant and conceited.
Genesis 32:10(v28)I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my…
Exodus 20:16(v27)“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
Deuteronomy 19:17-19(v29)then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Yahweh, before the priests and the judges who shall be in those…
1 Samuel 26:16(v28)This thing isn’t good that you have done. As Yahweh lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, Yahweh’s…
2 Samuel 4:4(v26)Now Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came about Saul and Jonathan out of…
2 Samuel 9:3(v26)The king said, “Is there not yet any of Saul’s house, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan still…
2 Samuel 9:7-8(v28)David said to him, “Don’t be afraid; for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the…
2 Samuel 16:2-3(v26)The king said to Ziba, “What do you mean by these?” Ziba said, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and…
2 Samuel 21:6-9(v28)let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them up to Yahweh in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of Yahweh.” The king said,…
2 Kings 8:3(v28)At the end of seven years, the woman returned from the land of the Philistines. Then she went out to beg the king for her house and for her…
Job 19:16-17(v29)I call to my servant, and he gives me no answer. I beg him with my mouth. My breath is offensive to my wife. I am loathsome to the children…
Psalms 15:3(v27)he who doesn’t slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor casts slurs against his fellow man;
Psalms 82:2(v29)“How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?”
Proverbs 18:13(v29)He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
Acts 18:15(v29)but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves. For I don’t want to be a judge of these matters.”
23 distinct cross-references across this passage (24 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Geneva Bible translators1599 · Public DomainOn vv27–29Able for his wisdom to judge in all matters.
Able for his wisdom to judge in all matters.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp1656 · Public DomainOn vv26–292Sa 19:26 And he answered, My lord, O king,…
2Sa 19:26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant [is] lame.
Ver. 26. My servant deceived me.] He doth not say, My servant hath by false informations and unjust accusations got my land from me: this troubled Mephibosheth nothing so much as the loss of his good name, and that good esteem that David formerly had of him. He said,
Read full note →
“ Ego si bonam famam servasso, sat dives ero.” - Plaut.
His comfort was that God, howsoever, would be his character witness at the resurrection.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole1685 · Public DomainOn vv26–29My servant deceived me, by carrying away the ass…
My servant deceived me, by carrying away the ass which I bid him saddle for me.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill1763 · Public DomainOn vv26–29And he answered, my lord, O king, my servant…
And he answered, my lord, O king, my servant deceived me,.... His servant Ziba, who, instead of saddling an ass for him by his order, went off with that and another himself, Sa2 16:1; for thy servant
said, I will saddle me an ass; he not only determined this in his own mind, but gave orders to his servant to saddle one for him:
Read full note →
that I may ride thereon, and go to the king, because thy servant is lame; and could not walk afoot, being lame of both his feet, Sa2 4:4.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley1765 · Public DomainOn vv26–29Deceived me - By carrying away the ass which…
Deceived me - By carrying away the ass which I bid him saddle for me.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke1810 · Public DomainOn vv27, 29Verse 27. The king is as an angel of…
Verse 27. The king is as an angel of God] As if he had said, I state my case plainly and without guile; thou art too wise not to penetrate the motives from which both myself and servant have acted. I shall make no appeal; with whatsoever thou determinest I shall rest contented.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson1811 · Public DomainOn vv28–292Sa 19:28. All my father’s house were but dead…
2Sa 19:28. All my father’s house were but dead men before my lord — Before thy tribunal: we were all at thy mercy; not my estate only, but my life also was in thy power, if thou hadst dealt with rigour, and as earthly kings use to do with their predecessors’ and enemies’ children. What right have I yet to cry? — For the vindication of my honour, and the restitution of my estate.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes1834 · Public DomainOn vv26, 29What appears to have happened is, that when Mephibosheth…
What appears to have happened is, that when Mephibosheth ordered Ziba to saddle the donkeys and ride with him to join David, Ziba left him under pretence of obeying, but instead laded the donkeys with provisions, and went off alone with them, thus making it impossible for Mephibosheth to follow.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary1859 · Public DomainOn vv26–29Despised. Hebrew and Chaldean, "acted treacherously against me." (Menochius)
Despised. Hebrew and Chaldean, "acted treacherously against me." (Menochius)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon1874 · Public DomainOn vv27, 2927. The king is as an angel — Wise…
27. The king is as an angel — Wise to discern, and righteous to decide a case of wrong. But David’s action did not justify his tribute of confidence.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges1878 · Public DomainOn vv26–2926. said, I will saddle me an ass] Meaning…
26. said, I will saddle me an ass] Meaning of course, I will have my ass saddled. The Sept. however reads, said unto him, Saddle me the ass, which certainly suits the context better. Apparently Ziba, after receiving the order, saddled the asses, loaded them with provisions, and went to meet David with his fictitious story (ch. 2Sa_16:1), leaving Mephibosheth in the lurch.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers1878 · Public DomainOn vv26, 29(26) My servant deceived me.—It now appears that the…
(26) My servant deceived me.—It now appears that the two asses laden with provisions which Ziba had brought to David in his flight (2Sa_16:1-2) were those which he had been ordered to prepare for his master. When Ziba had stolen away with these, Mephibosheth was left helpless in his lameness. Most of the ancient versions read “said to him, Saddle,” &c., but the sense is plain enough as the text stands.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary1880 · Public DomainOn vv26, 29Thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass.…
Thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass. This would mean, "Thy servant purposed, said within himself, that he would saddle an ass, not by his own hands, but by those of his servants." All the versions, however, except the Chaldee, read, "Thy servant said to him, Saddle me an ass." With this agrees the narrative in 2Sa_16:1. Mephibosheth ordered Ziba to saddle for him an ass, and one for an attendant, and to put hastily together a supply of food for the journey. And Ziba does so; but when everything is ready, he leaves his master in the lurch, and carries all away to David, to whom he falsely represents Mephibosheth as a traitor. In the words that follow, he unreservedly submits himself to David, on the ground that, though innocent in this affair, yet that, as a member of a dethroned dynasty, his life was forfeit, (comp. 2Sa_21:7) and that, in permitting him to live, and placing him among his friends, the king had done him an act of grace.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield1917 · Public DomainOn v27(See Scofield "Heb 1:4").
angel
(See Scofield "Heb 1:4").
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0On vv26, 29See how you translated this man's name in 2…
Ziba
See how you translated this man's name in 2 Samuel 9:2. (See: How to Translate Names)
Read full note →
my master the king is like an angel of God
Here David's wisdom is compared to the wisdom of an angel. AT: "my master the king is as wise as an angel of God" (See: Simile)
do what is good in your eyes
This means to do what you think is right. AT: "do what you believe to be the right thing to do" (See: Idiom)
all my father's house were dead men before my master the king
Mephibosheth speaks of how his relatives had deserved to be executed as if they had already been executed and were dead. AT: "all my father's house deserved for my master the king to order them to be executed" (See: Metaphor)
my father's house
This refers to his father's relatives. AT: "my father's relatives" (See: Metonymy)
What right therefore have I that I should still cry any more to the king?
Mephibosheth uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that he has no right to request anything from the king. This can be written as a statement. AT: "Therefore, I have no right to ask the king to do anything else for me." (See: Rhetorical Question)
Tyndale Open Study Notes2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0On v2719:27-28 like an angel of God: See study note…
19:27-28 like an angel of God: See study note on 14:17. • I could expect only death . . . What more can I ask? If Mephibosheth had wanted to betray David, it would have been a profound show of ingratitude for all that David had done for him.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv27–29 Able for his wisdom to judge in all matters.
Able for his wisdom to judge in all matters.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv26–29 2Sa 19:26 And he answered, My lord, O king,…
2Sa 19:26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant [is] lame.
Ver. 26. My servant deceived me.] He doth not say, My servant hath by false informations and unjust accusations got my land from me: this troubled Mephibosheth nothing so much as the loss of his good name, and that good esteem that David formerly had of him. He said,
Read full note →
“ Ego si bonam famam servasso, sat dives ero.” - Plaut.
His comfort was that God, howsoever, would be his character witness at the resurrection.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv26–29 My servant deceived me, by carrying away the ass…
My servant deceived me, by carrying away the ass which I bid him saddle for me.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv26–29 And he answered, my lord, O king, my servant…
And he answered, my lord, O king, my servant deceived me,.... His servant Ziba, who, instead of saddling an ass for him by his order, went off with that and another himself, Sa2 16:1; for thy servant
said, I will saddle me an ass; he not only determined this in his own mind, but gave orders to his servant to saddle one for him:
Read full note →
that I may ride thereon, and go to the king, because thy servant is lame; and could not walk afoot, being lame of both his feet, Sa2 4:4.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv26–29 Deceived me - By carrying away the ass which…
Deceived me - By carrying away the ass which I bid him saddle for me.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv27, 29 Verse 27. The king is as an angel of…
Verse 27. The king is as an angel of God] As if he had said, I state my case plainly and without guile; thou art too wise not to penetrate the motives from which both myself and servant have acted. I shall make no appeal; with whatsoever thou determinest I shall rest contented.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv28–29 2Sa 19:28. All my father’s house were but dead…
2Sa 19:28. All my father’s house were but dead men before my lord — Before thy tribunal: we were all at thy mercy; not my estate only, but my life also was in thy power, if thou hadst dealt with rigour, and as earthly kings use to do with their predecessors’ and enemies’ children. What right have I yet to cry? — For the vindication of my honour, and the restitution of my estate.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv26, 29 What appears to have happened is, that when Mephibosheth…
What appears to have happened is, that when Mephibosheth ordered Ziba to saddle the donkeys and ride with him to join David, Ziba left him under pretence of obeying, but instead laded the donkeys with provisions, and went off alone with them, thus making it impossible for Mephibosheth to follow.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv26–29 Despised. Hebrew and Chaldean, "acted treacherously against me." (Menochius)
Despised. Hebrew and Chaldean, "acted treacherously against me." (Menochius)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv27, 29 27. The king is as an angel — Wise…
27. The king is as an angel — Wise to discern, and righteous to decide a case of wrong. But David’s action did not justify his tribute of confidence.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv26–29 26. said, I will saddle me an ass] Meaning…
26. said, I will saddle me an ass] Meaning of course, I will have my ass saddled. The Sept. however reads, said unto him, Saddle me the ass, which certainly suits the context better. Apparently Ziba, after receiving the order, saddled the asses, loaded them with provisions, and went to meet David with his fictitious story (ch. 2Sa_16:1), leaving Mephibosheth in the lurch.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv26, 29 (26) My servant deceived me.—It now appears that the…
(26) My servant deceived me.—It now appears that the two asses laden with provisions which Ziba had brought to David in his flight (2Sa_16:1-2) were those which he had been ordered to prepare for his master. When Ziba had stolen away with these, Mephibosheth was left helpless in his lameness. Most of the ancient versions read “said to him, Saddle,” &c., but the sense is plain enough as the text stands.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv26, 29 Thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass.…
Thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass. This would mean, "Thy servant purposed, said within himself, that he would saddle an ass, not by his own hands, but by those of his servants." All the versions, however, except the Chaldee, read, "Thy servant said to him, Saddle me an ass." With this agrees the narrative in 2Sa_16:1. Mephibosheth ordered Ziba to saddle for him an ass, and one for an attendant, and to put hastily together a supply of food for the journey. And Ziba does so; but when everything is ready, he leaves his master in the lurch, and carries all away to David, to whom he falsely represents Mephibosheth as a traitor. In the words that follow, he unreservedly submits himself to David, on the ground that, though innocent in this affair, yet that, as a member of a dethroned dynasty, his life was forfeit, (comp. 2Sa_21:7) and that, in permitting him to live, and placing him among his friends, the king had done him an act of grace.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v27 (See Scofield "Heb 1:4").
angel
(See Scofield "Heb 1:4").
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv26, 29 See how you translated this man's name in 2…
Ziba
See how you translated this man's name in 2 Samuel 9:2. (See: How to Translate Names)
Read full note →
my master the king is like an angel of God
Here David's wisdom is compared to the wisdom of an angel. AT: "my master the king is as wise as an angel of God" (See: Simile)
do what is good in your eyes
This means to do what you think is right. AT: "do what you believe to be the right thing to do" (See: Idiom)
all my father's house were dead men before my master the king
Mephibosheth speaks of how his relatives had deserved to be executed as if they had already been executed and were dead. AT: "all my father's house deserved for my master the king to order them to be executed" (See: Metaphor)
my father's house
This refers to his father's relatives. AT: "my father's relatives" (See: Metonymy)
What right therefore have I that I should still cry any more to the king?
Mephibosheth uses this rhetorical question to emphasize that he has no right to request anything from the king. This can be written as a statement. AT: "Therefore, I have no right to ask the king to do anything else for me." (See: Rhetorical Question)
translationWords
deceive
donkey
angel
God
good
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v27 19:27-28 like an angel of God: See study note…
19:27-28 like an angel of God: See study note on 14:17. • I could expect only death . . . What more can I ask? If Mephibosheth had wanted to betray David, it would have been a profound show of ingratitude for all that David had done for him.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.