And the king said to Barzillai, come thou over with me ,.... Over Jordan; Barzillai came with an intent to accompany the king over Jordan; but the king meant not only to go over Jordan, but when over to go further with him, even to Jerusalem: and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem ; meaning, that he should dwell with him in his palace, and eat at his table, in return for feeding him at Mahanaim. read more
And Barzillai said unto the king ,.... In answer to the grateful proposal he made: how long have I to live ; that could not be said with exactness by any; but it might be probably conjectured from the age he was of, and the infirmities that attended him, that he could not live long; it was but a short time he had to be in the world: that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem ? take so long a journey as that, seeing he might die before he got thither; and if he did not, since it... read more
I am this day fourscore years old ,.... Not that that day was precisely his birthday, but that he was about such an age, very little under or over; very probably he was full that age: and can I discern between good and evil ? signifying, either that his intellectual powers were impaired, and could not distinguish what was right and wrong, and so could be of no service to David in his privy council, or any court of judicature, he was fit for no post or office under him; or that his... read more
Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king ,.... That is, go a little way after he was over Jordan with him, and then return to his own city: and why should the king recompense it with such a reward ? the sense is, why should the king recompense so trifling a thing as I have done, and which was but my duty, with such a reward, as to maintain me in so grand a manner at his court? read more
Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again ,.... To his own city, after he is gone ever Jordan, and seen the king a little way on his journey: that I may die in my own city : the city of Rogelim, where perhaps he was born, and had lived all his days, and where it is natural for people to desire to die, even in their native place: and be buried by the grave of my father, and of my mother : or "in" their grave, as Kimchi and Ben Melech, in the sepulchre of his fathers, where men... read more
Can thy servant taste what I eat - Here is at once an affecting description of the infirmities of old age; and a correct account of the mode of living at an Eastern court in ancient times. Barzillai was fourscore years old; his ear was become dull of hearing, and his relish for his food was gone: he therefore appears to have been not only an old man, but an infirm old man. Besides delicate meats and drinks, we find that vocal music constituted a principal part of court... read more
Thy servant Chimham - It is generally understood that this was Barzillai's son; and this is probable from 1 Kings 2:7 , where, when David was dying, he said, Show kindness to the sons of Barzillai: and it is very probable that this Chimham was one of them. In Jeremiah 41:17 ; mention is made of the habitation of Chimham, which was near to Bethlehem; and it is reasonably conjectured that David had left that portion, which was probably a part of his paternal estate, to this son of... read more
( THE JORDAN .) Old Barzillai. "How long have I to live?" ( 2 Samuel 19:34 ). Barzillai dwelt at Rogelim (his own city, 2 Samuel 19:37 ), in Gilead, where, amidst the rich highland pastures, diligently superintending his flocks and herds, he spent his days in peace. He enjoyed "the blessing of the Old Testament"—prosperity; and was "a very great [wealthy] man." Like Machir ben-Ammiel ( 2 Samuel 9:4 ), he was loyal, hospitable, and generous ( 2 Samuel 17:28 ). One of his sons... read more
The facts are: 1 . Barzillai, having provided sustenance for David while he was at Mahanaim, and accompanying him over Jordan, is entreated to go and live with him at Jerusalem. 2 . Barzillai, having no relish for the kind of life which he thought prevailed at court, pleads age and infirmity and a fear of being an incumbrance to David, as a reason for not complying with his request, but asks that his own son Chimham may be permitted to go. 3 . David consents, promises to do for... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 19:31-39
David had already graced the triumphs of his restoration with the generous remission of the injuries that had been done to him; we have him here gracing them with a no less generous reward of the kindnesses that had been shown to him. Barzillai, the Gileadite, who had a noble seat at Rogelim, not far from Mahanaim, was the man who, of all the nobility and gentry of that country, had been most kind to David in his distress. If Absalom had prevailed, it is likely he would have suffered for his... read more