2 Samuel 19:34

And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?

And Barzillai {H1271} said {H559} unto the king {H4428}, How long {H3117} have I to live {H8141}{H2416}, that I should go up {H5927} with the king {H4428} unto Jerusalem {H3389}?

Barzillai said to the king, "How much longer can I live, that I should go up with the king to Yerushalayim?

But Barzillai replied, โ€œHow many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?

And Barzillai said unto the king, How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?

Commentary

In 2 Samuel 19:34, the venerable Barzillai the Gileadite responds to King David's generous offer to bring him to Jerusalem and provide for him. Barzillai, an elderly man, humbly declines the king's invitation, expressing a profound awareness of his advanced age and the limited time he has left on earth.

Historical and Cultural Context

Following the successful suppression of Absalom's rebellion, King David was returning to Jerusalem. During David's exile and flight from his son, Barzillai, a wealthy and influential man from Mahanaim, had shown immense loyalty and hospitality, providing crucial provisions and support for David and his loyalists (2 Samuel 17:27-29). Out of deep gratitude, David invited Barzillai to accompany him to the capital, offering him a place at court and royal provision. This was a significant honor, a reward for his faithfulness. However, Barzillai's response in this verse reveals a man deeply rooted in his own reality, prioritizing wisdom over worldly gain.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Wisdom of Old Age: Barzillai demonstrates remarkable self-awareness and practical wisdom. He understands that at his age (80 years old, mentioned in 2 Samuel 19:32), the pleasures and demands of court life would no longer be suitable or enjoyable for him. His question, "How long have I to live?", is not a lament but a realistic assessment of his remaining days.
  • Humility and Selflessness: Despite the high honor, Barzillai humbly declines, not out of disrespect, but out of a genuine understanding of his limitations. He had provided for David without seeking personal reward, and his refusal highlights his selfless character. He was content with his life and contributions.
  • Brevity of Life: The verse poignantly touches on the universal theme of mortality. Barzillai's recognition of his limited time underscores the preciousness of life and the importance of making choices that align with one's season. This echoes sentiments found in other scriptures about the fleeting nature of human existence, such as Psalm 90:10.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "How long have I to live" is mah yamim (ืžึทื” ื™ึธึผืžึดื™ื), literally meaning "what days" or "how many days." This rhetorical question emphasizes Barzillai's acute awareness of the finite nature of his remaining time. It's not a question seeking an exact number, but rather an expression of the fewness of his days, highlighting the practical futility of embarking on a new, demanding chapter in his life.

Practical Application

Barzillai's response offers valuable lessons for all generations:

  • Understand Your Season: Just as Barzillai recognized his limitations due to age, we are called to understand and accept our current life circumstances, strengths, and weaknesses. Not every opportunity, no matter how prestigious, is meant for every person at every stage of life.
  • Serve Selflessly: Barzillai's initial aid to David was not transactional. His example encourages us to serve others out of genuine love and loyalty, without expecting personal gain or seeking prominent positions.
  • Prioritize What Matters: As life progresses, our priorities often shift. Barzillai chose comfort, familiarity, and perhaps spiritual reflection over the allure of royal living. This prompts us to consider what truly holds value for us in our own lives, especially as we gain perspective. David, respecting Barzillai's wishes, instead offered the honor to Barzillai's son, Chimham, demonstrating continued gratitude.
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Cross-References

  • 1 Corinthians 7:29 (3 votes)

    But this I say, brethren, the time [is] short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

  • James 4:14 (3 votes)

    Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

  • Psalms 39:5 (2 votes)

    Behold, thou hast made my days [as] an handbreadth; and mine age [is] as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state [is] altogether vanity. Selah.

  • Psalms 39:6 (2 votes)

    Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up [riches], and knoweth not who shall gather them.

  • Job 14:14 (2 votes)

    If a man die, shall he live [again]? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

  • Genesis 47:8 (2 votes)

    And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old [art] thou?

  • Genesis 47:9 (2 votes)

    And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage [are] an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.