2 Samuel 19:31-39

Evangelical Heritage Version

³¹ Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim. He crossed over the Jordan, escorting the king back over the Jordan. ³² Barzillai was very old, eighty years old. He had provided food for the king during his stay at Mahanaim because he was a very wealthy man. ³³ The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me. I will provide for you as my guest in Jerusalem.”

³⁴ But Barzillai said to the king, “How many years am I going to be alive? Why should I go up with the king to Jerusalem? ³⁵ Today I am eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat and what I drink? Can I still hear the voice of the male and female singers? Why should your servant become a further burden to my lord the king? ³⁶ Let your servant cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance. Why will the king pay me back with such a reward? ³⁷ Please, let your servant return and die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But look! Here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever seems good to you.”

³⁸ So the king said, “Kimham shall go over with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you. All that you want from me, I will do for you.”

³⁹ So all the people crossed over the Jordan, and the king also crossed over. Then he kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Barzillai then returned to his own home.