shall eat bread The eating at courts was of two kinds; the one public and ceremonies, the other private. Sir John Chardin understands those passages which speak of a right to eat at the royal table, appointing out a right to a seat there, when the repast was public and solemn. So in a MS. Note on

1 Kings 2:7 But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at your table...

, 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.

2 Samuel 9:7,11-13 And David said to him, Fear not: for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake...

2 Samuel 19:28 For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king...

2 Kings 25:29 And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.

Luke 14:15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said to him...