2 Samuel 9:7

Fear not Mephibosheth might be afraid that David had only hunted him out to treat him after the common fashion of Oriental usurpers, who often put all their predecessor's kindred to death. He seems to have lived in concealment at Lo-debar.

the land of Saul thy father Saul's private estate at Gibeah, which passed into David's possession when he came to the throne (ch. 2 Samuel 12:8). Father = grandfather, as frequently: so in 2 Samuel 9:9 son = grandson.

thou shalt eat bread at my table A common mark of honour in Oriental countries. See 1 Kings 2:7; 2 Kings 25:29. The physician Democedes, who cured Darius, was made "a member of the king's table" (ὁμοτράπεζος βασιλέϊ, Herod. III. 132): and Histiaeus of Miletus was invited to come up to Susa, and be Darius" "mess-companion" (σύσσιτος, Herod, v. 24).