2 Samuel 19 32

2 Samuel 19:32 kjv

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.

2 Samuel 19:32 nkjv

Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And he had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man.

2 Samuel 19:32 niv

Now Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man.

2 Samuel 19:32 esv

Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. He had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man.

2 Samuel 19:32 nlt

He was very old ? eighty years of age ? and very wealthy. He was the one who had provided food for the king during his stay in Mahanaim.

2 Samuel 19 verses

2 Samuel 19 32 Meaning

2 Samuel 19:32 describes Barzillai as a very old man, eighty years of age, who had extensively provided King David with sustenance and provisions during David’s desperate flight to Mahanaim amidst Absalom's rebellion. The verse explicitly states that Barzillai was able to do so because he was an exceedingly wealthy man, underscoring his great generosity and unwavering loyalty to David in a critical time of need.

2 Samuel 19 32 Context

This verse is found within the narrative of King David's return to Jerusalem after the defeat and death of Absalom, his rebellious son. Following Absalom's anointing in Hebron and the subsequent widespread rebellion (2 Sam 15), David was forced to flee Jerusalem, crossing the Jordan River to seek refuge in Mahanaim, a fortified city in Gilead (2 Sam 17:22, 24). It was during this vulnerable period, when David and his loyalists were cut off from their usual supplies and resources, that three prominent individuals—Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai—came to their aid. 2 Samuel 17:27-29 specifically mentions them bringing extensive provisions, including beds, food, and various household items.

2 Samuel 19 focuses on the king's reconciliation with those who had remained loyal, as well as the initial aftermath of the rebellion, including his interactions with the tribes of Judah and Israel. Verse 32 reintroduces Barzillai as David crosses the Jordan again on his return journey, preparing for a poignant encounter between the aging Barzillai and the grateful King David, setting the stage for David's generous offer to him (2 Sam 19:33-39). The verse emphasizes Barzillai's critical role in sustaining David's cause when it was at its lowest ebb.

2 Samuel 19 32 Word analysis

• Barzillai (בַּרְזִלַּי, Barzillay): This Hebrew name means "iron" or "made of iron." It suggests strength, endurance, and unyielding character. This is fitting for a man who demonstrated immense fortitude and unwavering loyalty to David, supporting him in a time when many others had turned away or wavered. He was from Rogelim, a town in Gilead, east of the Jordan River.

• was a very aged man (זָקֵן מְאֹד, zaqen me'od):

  • זָקֵן (zaqen): Old, elder. This term denotes significant advanced age, commanding respect in ancient Israelite culture (cf. Lev 19:32).
  • מְאֹד (me'od): Very, exceedingly. The intensifying adverb highlights that he was not merely old, but remarkably so.

• eighty years old (בֶּן־שְׁמֹנִים שָׁנָה, ben-shemonim shanah):

  • Lit. "son of eighty years." This is a common Hebrew idiom for expressing age. Eighty years was a significant age, often considered beyond the usual span of human life in Psalm 90:10 ("The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty"). This precise number underlines his considerable age and adds weight to his later reasons for declining David's offer.

• And he had provided (וְכִלְכֵּל, vekhiľkel):

  • From the root כּוּל (kul), meaning to contain, support, sustain, or nourish. The Piel (intensive) form kilkel suggests an extensive, consistent, and full provision of support. This was not a minor contribution but substantial, necessary aid over a period of time. It implies comprehensive logistical and material support.

• the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim (אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּשִׁבְתּוֹ בְּמַחֲנַיִם, 'et-hammelekh beshivto beMahanaim):

  • This specifies the direct recipient (the king) and the critical timing and location of the aid.
  • Mahanaim (מַחֲנַיִם, Machanaim): A city east of the Jordan, a place of strategic refuge for David. The name means "double camp," likely referring to its fortified nature or the two companies of angels Jacob saw there (Gen 32:2). David's stay here signified his deepest vulnerability, making Barzillai's help all the more crucial and risky.

• for he was a very wealthy man (כִּי־אִישׁ עָשִׁיר מְאֹד הוּא, ki-'ish ashir me'od hu'):

  • כִּי (ki): Because, for. This conjunction indicates the reason or explanation for Barzillai's extensive provision.
  • אִישׁ עָשִׁיר מְאֹד ('ish ashir me'od): A very rich man.
    • עָשִׁיר (ashir): Rich, wealthy, affluent.
    • מְאֹד (me'od): Again, "very" or "exceedingly," emphasizing the significant extent of his wealth.
  • This clause highlights his material capacity for such generosity. His wealth was a divine blessing, which he evidently employed for righteous purposes in supporting God's anointed king in distress, rather than hoarding it.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old.": This phrase establishes Barzillai's advanced age, emphasizing both his wisdom/respectability and, later, explaining his decision not to relocate to Jerusalem. His long life likely brought accumulated wisdom and resources.
  • "And he had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim": This defines the critical, practical action taken by Barzillai. It speaks volumes of his courage and loyalty, providing material support to a king in exile and dire straits. This was a sustained effort to nourish not just David but presumably his many loyal followers who accompanied him.
  • "for he was a very wealthy man.": This final phrase explains how Barzillai could undertake such a massive logistical and financial feat. It underscores that his extensive provisions were enabled by his abundant resources, highlighting good stewardship of wealth in service of the king and, indirectly, God's kingdom.

2 Samuel 19 32 Bonus section

Barzillai is remembered as one of three key individuals who brought essential provisions to David and his people when they were vulnerable in Mahanaim (2 Sam 17:27-29). The listing of Barzillai here just before David re-enters Jerusalem highlights his exceptional dedication and places him among the most loyal of David's supporters. His character contrasts sharply with those who actively rebelled or only feigned loyalty. His selfless act earned him a unique place in David's gratitude and the historical record. The detailed description of his age and wealth emphasizes that even in advanced years, and with the means to live a life of ease, Barzillai actively chose to engage in costly service to his king.

2 Samuel 19 32 Commentary

2 Samuel 19:32 serves as a pivotal summary and commendation of Barzillai's past actions, establishing his character before his crucial interaction with David. It underlines that Barzillai's loyalty was not just emotional but manifested in concrete, costly acts of service. His decision to sustain David and his forces during their desperate retreat to Mahanaim was an act of profound courage and commitment, as supporting the exiled king was a risky venture during Absalom's ascendant rebellion. His advanced age, stated explicitly as eighty years, suggests wisdom and a long life of integrity, while his immense wealth highlights his capacity for exceptional generosity. This verse paints a picture of a man who used his blessings—both long life and vast resources—to faithfully serve God's appointed leader in a time of great need. It implies that true loyalty is demonstrated through practical and sacrificial support, a lesson that resonated with David and led to enduring gratitude extending to Barzillai's descendants (1 Kgs 2:7).