⁷ “But show kindness to the sons of ^(A)Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who ^(B)eat at your table, for so ^(C)they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.

⁷ So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”

²⁷ Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that ^(A)Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, ^(B)Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and ^(C)Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, ²⁸ brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, ²⁹ honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty ^(D)in the wilderness.”

¹⁰ You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son ^(A)shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had ^(B)fifteen sons and twenty servants.

²⁰ Behold, ^(A)I stand at the door and knock. ^(B)If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, ^(C)I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. ²¹ To him who overcomes ^(D)I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

²⁸ “But you are those who have continued with Me in ^(A)My trials. ²⁹ And ^(B)I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, ³⁰ that ^(C)you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, ^(D)and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

^37 (A)Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.

David’s Kindness to Barzillai

³¹ And ^(A)Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan. ³² Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And ^(B)he had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man. ³³ And the king said to Barzillai, “Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”

³⁴ But Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? ³⁵ I am today ^(C)eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king? ³⁶ Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me with such a reward? ³⁷ Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant ^(D)Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.”

³⁸ And the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Now whatever you request of me, I will do for you.” ³⁹ Then all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had crossed over, the king ^(E)kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place.

The Quarrel About the King

⁴⁰ Now the king went on to Gilgal, and ^[a]Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king, and also half the people of Israel.