Definition: And [there were] a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Samuel 19:17. It’s a really important part of the story of David and his time in exile. Here's what it means in simpler terms: Basically, it says that David had a large group of people with him as he traveled across Jordan. Let’s unpack it further: “And [there were] a thousand men of Benjamin…” This is the key part. “Benjamin” was a tribe within the Northern Kingdom of Israel. It's important to understand this because it tells us who David was traveling with. This group was particularly significant because they held a special position in the king’s eyes. “…and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul…” This refers to Ziba, a man who worked for King Saul. Saul was the king at the time, and he had this person under his control. "...and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him;” This tells us there were several children of Benjamin involved. David brought along a significant number of people. "…and they went over Jordan before the king.” This is where it gets exciting! They were traveling across the Jordan River, which was a very dangerous place. David was exiled from his kingdom and had to travel across a large body of water to reach Jerusalem. They were going before the king, meaning they were making their way to the capital city of Jerusalem. So, what’s the big picture? This verse is part of a story about David's leadership and his exile. It shows that he had a strong support system – people who were loyal to him and helped him navigate a difficult situation. It highlights the importance of having a trusted group of people when you're facing challenges. In short, it’s a description of a significant group of people David brought along on his journey across Jordan. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Give you a little more context about the story of David and his exile?