en_tn/2sa/09/07.md

740 B

you will always eat at my table

Here the "my table" refers to being together with or in David's presence. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)

What is your servant, that you should look with favor on such a dead dog as I am?

This question is asked to show Mephibosheth understands his place. AT: "I am of no importance at all." (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion)

such a dead dog

Here the Mephibosheth represents the line of Saul, and compares himself to a "dead dog." Dogs were all feral and while alive were of little importance and were not directly cared for. So, a dead dog would have even less importance. AT: "I am like a dead dog" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)