2 samuel 19:34 - Barzillai said to the king, “How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
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What does "2 samuel 19:34" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 19:34 is part of a larger exchange between King David and Barzillai. To understand its meaning, we need a bit of context:
David is returning to Jerusalem: David had been forced to flee Jerusalem due to a rebellion led by his son Absalom. Now, after Absalom's death and the quelling of the rebellion, David is returning to his capital.
Barzillai's Loyalty: Barzillai was a wealthy and loyal old man who had provided David and his army with food and supplies while they were in exile. He had shown remarkable kindness and generosity.
David's Gratitude: David, deeply grateful, wants to reward Barzillai for his support.
Now, let's break down the verse itself:
"Barzillai said to the king..." This establishes who is speaking.
"...“How many are the days of the years of my life..." Barzillai is essentially saying, "How much longer do I have to live?" He's reflecting on his advanced age.
"...that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?" This is the key point. Barzillai is politely declining David's invitation to move to Jerusalem and live with him in the royal court. He's asking why, at his age, he should make such a significant move.
The meaning of the entire verse:
Barzillai is using his advanced age as a reason to refuse David's generous offer. He's not being ungrateful. Instead, he's suggesting that moving to Jerusalem at his age would be impractical and that he's nearing the end of his life, so why bother uprooting himself? He recognizes his own limitations and believes he would be more of a burden than a help to David.
In essence, it's a humble and realistic assessment of his situation, couched in respectful terms. He's not rejecting David's generosity out of spite; he's doing it out of practicality and a sense of self-awareness.
2 samuel 19:34 - Barzillai said to the king, “How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
What does "2 samuel 19:34" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 19:34 is part of a larger exchange between King David and Barzillai. To understand its meaning, we need a bit of context:
David is returning to Jerusalem: David had been forced to flee Jerusalem due to a rebellion led by his son Absalom. Now, after Absalom's death and the quelling of the rebellion, David is returning to his capital.
Barzillai's Loyalty: Barzillai was a wealthy and loyal old man who had provided David and his army with food and supplies while they were in exile. He had shown remarkable kindness and generosity.
David's Gratitude: David, deeply grateful, wants to reward Barzillai for his support.
Now, let's break down the verse itself:
"Barzillai said to the king..." This establishes who is speaking.
"...“How many are the days of the years of my life..." Barzillai is essentially saying, "How much longer do I have to live?" He's reflecting on his advanced age.
"...that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?" This is the key point. Barzillai is politely declining David's invitation to move to Jerusalem and live with him in the royal court. He's asking why, at his age, he should make such a significant move.
The meaning of the entire verse:
Barzillai is using his advanced age as a reason to refuse David's generous offer. He's not being ungrateful. Instead, he's suggesting that moving to Jerusalem at his age would be impractical and that he's nearing the end of his life, so why bother uprooting himself? He recognizes his own limitations and believes he would be more of a burden than a help to David.
In essence, it's a humble and realistic assessment of his situation, couched in respectful terms. He's not rejecting David's generosity out of spite; he's doing it out of practicality and a sense of self-awareness.