2 Samuel 16

2 Samuel 16

Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission 2 Samuel Chart from Charles Swindoll TIMELINE OF THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL, KINGS & CHRONICLES 1107 1011 971 931 853 722 586 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 1 Kings 2 Kings 31 1-4 5-10 11-20 21-24 1-11 12-22 1-17 18-25 1Chr 10 1 Chr 11-19 1 Chr 20-29 2 Chronicles 1-9 2 Chronicles 10-20 2 Chronicles 21-36 Legend: B.C. dates at top of timeline are approximate. Note that 931 BC marks the division of the Kingdom into Southern Tribes (Judah and Benjamin) and Ten Northern Tribes. To avoid confusion be aware that after the division of the Kingdom in 931 BC, the Southern Kingdom is most often designated in Scripture as "Judah" and the Northern Kingdom as "Israel." Finally, note that 1 Chronicles 1-9 is not identified on the timeline because these chapters are records of genealogy. Map of David's Kingdom-ESV Global Map of Cities in 2 Samuel HIGHS AND LOWS OF DAVID'S LIFE Source: Life Application Study Bible (borrow) 2 Samuel 16:1 Now when David had passed a little beyond the summit, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a jug of wine. Now when David had passed a little beyond the summit 2Sa 15:30,32 Ziba: 2Sa 9:2,9-12 with a couple: 2Sa 17:27-29 19:32 1Sa 17:17,18 25:18 1Ch 12:40 Pr 18:16 29:4,5 summer: Jer 40:10,12 Am 8:1 Mic 7:1 a jug: 1Sa 10:3 16:20 2 Samuel 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: 2 Samuel 9:2; 9-12+ Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David; and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” .... 9 Then the king called Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. 10 “You and your sons and your servants shall cultivate the land for him, and you shall bring in the produce so that your master’s grandson may have food; nevertheless Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall eat at my table regularly.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant so your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table as one of the king’s sons. 12 Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth. ZIBA SUPPLIES KING DAVID Now when David had passed a little beyond the summit (top of Mount of Olives), behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a jug of wine - So David is just barely out of Jerusalem when Ziba meets him. Ziba presents a generous gift to David with food (from Mephibosheth's farm!), but a good beginning does not make for a good beginning, and in this case might have been a good beginning by Ziba to hide his ulterior motives! As we soon see Ziba will accuse Mephibosheth of disloyalty which would be proved false in 2Sa 19:24-28+. He was clearly trying to commend himself in the eyes of David and thus the offering of food to the king. Thomas Scott said, “Selfish men are often very generous in giving away the property of others for their own advantage.” The supplies given as noted most likely come from Mephibosheth's property which Ziba was to manage. Ziba is buttering up the king to gain what he covets. He evidently has it all planned out.