- shall eat bread:
- The eating at courts was of two kinds; the one public and ceremonious, the other private. Sir John Chardin understands those passages which speak of a right to eat at the royal table, as pointing out a right to a seat there, when the repast was public and solemn. So in a manuscript Note on "But shewª° kindnessª unto the sonsª of Barzillaiª the Gileadite,ª and let them be¹ of those that eatª° at thy table:ª for¹ so¹ they cameª° to¹ me when I fledª° becauseª¹ of Absalomª thy brother.ª" {1Kg 2:7}, he tells us that it was to be understood of the majilis, (the term for an assembly of lords, or a public feast), and not of the daily and ordinary repast. Hence, though Mephibosheth was to eat at all public times at the king's table, yet he would want the produce of his lands for food at other times, which it was necessary for Ziba to understand. "And Davidª saidª° unto him, Fearª° not:¹ for¹ I will surely²° shewª°¹ thee kindnessª for Jonathanª thy father'sª sake,¹ and will restoreª° thee¹ all¹ the landª of Saulª thy father;ª and thou¹ shalt eatª° breadª at¹ my tableª continually.ª" {2Sm 9:7} + "Then saidª° Zibaª unto¹ the king,ª According to all¹ that¹ my lordª the kingª hath commandedª°¹ his servant,ª so¹ shall thy servantª do.ª° As for Mephibosheth,ª [said the king], he shall eatª° at¹ my table,ª as oneª of the king's² sons.ª¹¹ ... So Mephiboshethª dweltª° in Jerusalem:ª for¹ he¹ did eatª° continuallyª at¹ the king'sª table;ª and was lameª on bothª his feet.ª" {2Sm 9:11-13} + "For¹ all¹ [of] my father'sª houseª were¹ but²¹¹ deadª men²¹ before¹ my lordª the king:ª yet didst thou setª°¹ thy servantª among them that did eatª° at thine own table.ª What¹ rightª therefore haveª I yet¹ to cryª° any more¹ unto¹ the king?ª" {2Sm 19:28} + "And changedª°¹ his prisonª garments:ª and he did eatª° breadª continuallyª beforeª him all¹ the daysª of his life.ª" {2Kg 25:29} + "Andª when oneª of them that sat at meat with¹ him²° heardª° these things,ª he saidª° unto him,ª Blessedª [is] heª that shall eatª° breadª inª the¹ kingdomª of God.ª" {Lke 14:15}
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