Barzillai

Barzillai the Gileadite was a wealthy, aged friend who provided food and supplies to David and his men during Absalom's rebellion, when the king fled across the Jordan. When David offered to reward him with a place at court, the eighty-year-old Barzillai humbly declined, asking only to die in his own city near his parents' grave. David remembered his loyalty on his deathbed, charging Solomon to show kindness to Barzillai's sons.

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Biography

Age: 80 years at the time
Occupation: Wealthy landowner
Era: United Kingdom
Nationality: Gileadite

Old Testament 2 Samuel

Did You Know?

Barzillai the Gileadite was about eighty years old when he provisioned David's fleeing army during Absalom's revolt, supplying beds, food, and vessels at his own expense (2 Samuel 17:27-29).

When David offered to reward him with a place at the royal court, Barzillai gracefully declined, saying he was too old to taste food or hear the singers, and asked only to die near his parents' grave - a rare portrait of contented old age.

David remembered him on his deathbed, charging Solomon to 'show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai' (1 Kings 2:7), so his loyalty was repaid a generation later.

Key Chapters

2 Samuel 17 Hushai's Counter-Counsel 6 min read Barzillai and others sustain David's exhausted company during the flight from Ab... 2 Samuel 19 David Returns to Jerusalem 9 min read The aged Barzillai humbly refuses a royal reward, content to end his days at hom...

Key Passages

Barzillai Provisions David

2 Samuel 17:27-29

Barzillai and others sustain David's exhausted company during the flight from Absalom.

A²⁷nd 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,

²⁸ Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, ²⁹ 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.

Read full chapter: 2 Samuel 17 →

Barzillai Declines Reward

2 Samuel 19:31-39

The aged Barzillai humbly refuses a royal reward, content to end his days at home.

A³¹nd Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.

³² 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. ³³ And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. ³⁴ And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? ³⁵ 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? ³⁶ Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward? ³⁷ 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. ³⁸ 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. ³⁹ 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.

Read full chapter: 2 Samuel 19 →