⁷ “But show kindness^(A) to the sons of Barzillai^(B) of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table.^(C) They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

²⁷ When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash^(A) from Rabbah^(B) of the Ammonites, and Makir^(C) son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai^(D) the Gileadite^(E) from Rogelim ²⁸ brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils,^{[a] 29} honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows’ milk for David and his people to eat.^(F) For they said, “The people have become exhausted and hungry and thirsty in the wilderness.^(G)”

⁷ “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan.^(A) I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.^(B)”

³¹ Barzillai^(A) the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and to send him on his way from there. ³² 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^(B) man. ³³ The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you.”

³⁴ But Barzillai answered the king, “How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? ³⁵ I am now eighty^(C) years old. Can I tell the difference between what is enjoyable and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of male and female singers?^(D) Why should your servant be an added^(E) burden to my lord the king? ³⁶ Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? ³⁷ Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father^(F) and mother. But here is your servant Kimham.^(G) Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever you wish.”

³⁸ The king said, “Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever you wish. And anything you desire from me I will do for you.”

³⁹ So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and bid him farewell,^(H) and Barzillai returned to his home.

⁴⁰ When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel had taken the king over.

¹⁰ You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson^(A) may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

²⁸ You are those who have stood by me in my trials. ²⁹ And I confer on you a kingdom,^(A) just as my Father conferred one on me, ³⁰ so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom^(B) and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.^(C)

³⁷ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.^(A) Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.^(B)

²⁸ All my grandfather’s descendants deserved nothing but death^(A) from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your table.^(B) So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?”