Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Samuel 19:28

28 For all of my fathers house, were but dead men before my lord the king : yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table: what right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king ?

i. e. Before thy Tribunal: we were all at thy Mercy: not my Estate onely (which thou hast now granted to Ziba) but my Life also was in thy Power, if thou hadst dealt with Rigor, and as Earthly Kings use to do with their Predecessors and Enemies Children. For otherwise by the Law of God Saul himself had not deserved to die by David's hands, as David himself confessed: much less his Children, who were not to dye for their Fathers Sins, Deut. 24. 16. But Mephibosheth speaks like a Courtier, and like an Orator, aggravating Matters against himself, that he might seem to justifie the King's Sentence, and to submit to it; and so insinuate himself into the Kings favour.

To wit; for the Vindication of mine Honour, and the Restitution of my Estate.

Marginal references: Heb. men of death.; Chap. 9. 7.