Barzillai

27When David came to Mahanaim, three men came to him. They were Shobi son of Nahash, from Rabbah in the land of Ammon; Machir son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar; and Barzillai the Gileadite, from Rogelim.

And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,

NoteAmmon was a country next door to Israel. These three men were rich and had food to share.

28They brought beds, bowls, and clay pots. They also brought wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, and lentils.

Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,

NoteLentils are small flat beans that are cooked in soup. Roasted grain was grain cooked over a fire, eaten like a snack.

29They brought honey, thick milk, sheep, and cheese made from cows' milk. All of it was food for David and his people. They said, "These people are hungry, tired, and thirsty out in the desert."

And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.

NoteThick milk is milk left to get lumpy, a little like yogurt. It was normal food there, and it kept longer than fresh milk.

31Barzillai from Gilead came down from his town, Rogelim. He went with the king to the Jordan to send him on his way.

And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.

NoteGilead was the land on the far side of the Jordan River. Rogelim was Barzillai's town there.

32Barzillai was very old, eighty years old. He was a very rich man. He had given the king food while David stayed at Mahanaim.

Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.

Note"Fourscore" in the King James means eighty. A score is twenty. Mahanaim was the town where David stayed while he was away from Jerusalem.

33The king said to Barzillai, "Come across with me. I will take care of you in Jerusalem."

And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.

34Barzillai said to the king, "How many years do I have left? Why should I go up to Jerusalem with you?

And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?

35I am eighty years old today. Can I still tell what is good and what is not? Can I even taste my food or drink? Can I still hear men and women singing? Why should I be a heavy load for my king?

I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

NoteKings kept singers to sing at their meals. Barzillai is saying he is too old to enjoy them now.

36I will only go a little way past the Jordan with you. Why should the king pay me back with such a big reward?

Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

37Please let me go back home. I want to die in my own town. I want to be buried near my father and mother. But here is Chimham, who serves me. Let him go across with you. Do for him whatever seems good to you."

Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.

NoteFamilies were buried together in one place. Being buried beside your parents mattered very much to people then.

38The king answered, "Chimham will come across with me. I will do for him whatever you want. And I will do anything you ask of me."

And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.

39All the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then Barzillai went back home.

And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.

NoteA kiss on the cheek was a normal way for men to say hello or goodbye.

40The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the men of Judah walked with the king. Half the men of Israel came too.

Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.

5"You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me. He killed two leaders of Israel's armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them in peacetime, as if there were a war. Their blood got on his belt and on his sandals.

Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.

NoteJoab was the leader of David's army. In a battle, killing an enemy was allowed. Joab killed these two men when there was no war. That was murder.

6So use your good sense. Do not let him die peacefully as an old man.

Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.

NoteThe King James says "his hoar head." That means his gray hair. It is a way of saying an old man.

7But be kind to the sons of Barzillai from Gilead. Let them eat at your table. They helped me when I ran away from your brother Absalom.

But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.

NoteEating at the king's table meant the king fed you and took care of you. It was a big honor. Gilead was a land east of the Jordan River. Absalom was David's son who once tried to take his throne.

8"Shimei son of Gera is near you. He is from the family of Benjamin, from the town of Bahurim. He said hard, hateful things about me the day I went to Mahanaim. Later he came to meet me at the Jordan River. I promised the LORD I would not kill him with a sword.

And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.

NoteBenjamin was one of the twelve families of Israel. To curse someone meant to ask out loud for bad things to happen to them. People took that very seriously. To promise "by the LORD" was the strongest promise there was.

9But do not treat him as if he did nothing wrong. You are wise. You know what you should do to him. See that he dies, old as he is."

Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

NoteDavid had promised not to kill Shimei himself. Solomon had never made that promise.