Ziba Brings Provisions to David
2 Samuel 16:1-4
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2 S.16.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ודוד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מעט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מהראש: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- והנה: ADV
- ציבא: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- נער: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מפי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בשת: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לקראתו: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m
- וצמד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- חמרים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- חבשים: ADJ,ptc,qal,m,pl
- ועליהם: CONJ+PREP+PRON,3,pl
- מאתים: NUM,m,pl,abs
- לחם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומאה: CONJ+NUM,card
- צמוקים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ומאה: CONJ+NUM,card
- קיץ: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ונבל: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 9:6-13 (thematic): Introduces Ziba as the servant of Mephibosheth and the household arrangement David establishes for Mephibosheth—background for Ziba’s role and possessions mentioned in 16:1.
- 2 Samuel 19:24-30 (structural): A later, parallel episode in which Ziba brings provisions to David and accuses Mephibosheth of disloyalty; parallels the meeting and fuels the same Ziba/Mephibosheth controversy.
- 2 Samuel 17:27-29 (thematic): During Absalom’s rebellion many people bring food, drink, and supplies to David (lists of provisions); thematically parallels the motif of supporters provisioning the fleeing king.
- 1 Samuel 30:11-12 (verbal): A short narrative where bread, cakes of figs, and clusters of raisins revive exhausted men—verbal and functional parallel to the raisins, dried fruit, and bread Ziba brings to David.
Alternative generated candidates
- And David had gone a little beyond the summit, and behold, Ziba, a young man of the household of Mephibosheth, met him; and with him were saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs, and a skin of wine.
- And David had gone a little beyond the summit, and behold, Ziba, a servant of Mephibosheth, came to meet him with a pair of saddled donkeys; on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred raisin cakes, a hundred fig cakes, and a skin of wine.
2 S.16.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- ציבא: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- מה: PRON,int
- אלה: DEM,pl,abs
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ציבא: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- החמורים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- לבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,cns
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לרכב: INF,qal,inf
- והלחם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- והקיץ: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- לאכול: VERB,qal,inf
- הנערים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- והיין: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- לשתות: INF,qal
- היעף: NOUN,m,sg,def
- במדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2Sam.16.1 (verbal): Immediate context—lists the saddled donkeys, bread, wine, raisins and figs that Ziba has brought; v.2 explains the intended use of those items for the king and his men.
- 2Sam.19.24-30 (allusion): On David’s return Ziba again claims he prepared donkeys, bread and provisions for the king; the passage revisits and disputes Ziba’s report about aiding David.
- 2Sam.17.27-29 (thematic): During Absalom’s rebellion many supporters bring bread, wine, beds and other provisions to David at Mahanaim—parallel supplies and purpose (sustaining the fleeing king and his followers).
- 1Sam.30.11-12 (thematic): An episode where exhausted men in the wilderness are given food and drink (fig cakes, bread, water) by a bystander—similar motif of provisioning and reviving fugitives.
Alternative generated candidates
- And David said to Ziba, "What are these to you?" And Ziba said, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride; the bread and the raisins are for the young men to eat; and the wine is to drink, for the travelers are weary in the wilderness."
- The king said to Ziba, "What are these to you?" Ziba said, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride, and the bread and the cakes are for the young men to eat, and the wine is to refresh my lord when he is weary in the wilderness."
2 S.16.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ואיה: ADV,interr
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדניך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ציבא: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הנה: PART
- יושב: VERB,qal,ptcp,1,m,sg
- בירושלם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ישיבו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- ממלכות: NOUN,f,pl,cs
- אבי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
Parallels
- 2 Samuel 9:6-13 (thematic): Background of David’s covenant with Mephibosheth—establishes why Mephibosheth is described as the 'son of your lord' and has a claim to Saul’s house that could be 'restored'. It explains the relationship Ziba invokes.
- 2 Samuel 16:1-4 (structural): Immediate narrative context: Ziba’s report follows a scene of abuse and betrayal toward David during his flight. Verse 3 is part of this continuous episode of insults, claims, and shifting loyalties.
- 2 Samuel 19:24-30 (thematic): After Absalom’s defeat Mephibosheth and Ziba offer competing accounts; David’s later decision to split the land reveals Ziba’s earlier statement was misleading. This passage resolves the claim Ziba makes in 16:3.
- 2 Samuel 4:4 (allusion): Notes Mephibosheth’s lameness and status as Jonathan’s son—background detail that bears on why Mephibosheth may not have traveled with David and helps explain the plausibility of Ziba’s accusation.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the king said, "Where is your master's son?" And Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said today the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my father."
- The king said, "And where is your master's son?" Ziba answered the king, "Behold, he is sitting in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will restore to me my father's kingdom.'"
2 S.16.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לצבא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הנה: PART
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- כל: DET
- אשר: PRON,rel
- למפי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בשת: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ציבא: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- השתחויתי: VERB,hitpael,perf,1,_,sg
- אמצא: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- חן: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בעיניך: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,const,2,ms
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- 2 Sam 9:6-8 (verbal): Mephibosheth falls on his face and speaks as a humble servant before David; the posture and language of humility closely parallel Ziba’s prostration and address to the king.
- 2 Sam 9:7 (structural): David’s earlier promise to restore to Mephibosheth ‘all that pertain to Saul’ provides a structural contrast: in 16:4 David temporarily assigns Mephibosheth’s property to Ziba.
- 2 Sam 19:24-30 (thematic): After David’s return Ziba and Mephibosheth give conflicting accounts about the lands and service; this passage revisits and resolves the claim Ziba makes in 16:4.
- Ruth 2:10 (verbal): Ruth falls on her face and asks why she has ‘found favor in your sight’; the combination of prostration and the formula ‘find favor in your sight’ echoes Ziba’s words to the king.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the king said to Ziba, "Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is yours." And Ziba bowed with his face to the ground and said, "May I find favor in your sight, my lord the king."
- The king said to Ziba, "Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours." Ziba bowed and said, "I have bowed; may I find favor in your sight, my lord the king."
And David had gone a little beyond the summit, and behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth came out to meet him; and with him were a pair of saddled donkeys, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs, and a skin of wine. And the king said to Ziba, 'What are these to you?' And Ziba said, 'The donkeys are for the king's household to ride; the bread and the cakes are for the young men to eat; and the wine to give drink to the faint in the wilderness.' And the king said, 'Where is your master's son?' And Ziba said to the king, 'Behold, he is sitting in Jerusalem, for he said today the house of Israel will restore to me my father's kingdom.'
Then the king said to Ziba, 'Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is yours.' And Ziba bowed and said, 'May I find favor in your sight, my lord the king.'