1 Kings 2:7

1Ki 2:7 But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.

Ver. 7. For so they came to me.] So as I now desire thee to do to them, as did they to me when I was in distress - viz., they fed and relieved me, for which I hold myself their perpetual debtor. Eaten bread, we say, is soon forgotten; but not with the thankful. Agesilaus, king of Sparta, was always very grateful for any courtesies that he received; and used to say, that it was not only an unjust thing not to be thankful, but if a man did not return greater kindness than he received. {a} How bountifully dealt the Lord Cromwell with Francis Frescobald, the Florentine, who had sometime relieved him in his great necessity, furnishing him with a horse, clothes, and money to bear his charges from Italy to England. {b}

{a} Plut.

{b} Act. and Mon.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ki_2:7

Shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai.

Gratitude for kindnesses repaid

An old English story tells of Frescobald, an Italian merchant who showed great kindness to Thomas Cromwell when he was in sore distress far from home. The stranger was welcomed to the merchants dwelling, and sent back safely to England. Years passed, and reverses came to Frescobald. He lost wealth and friends, and wandered as a beggar to this country. One day he saw a great crowd moving along the streets of London. The Lord Chancellor was going in state to open the courts. To Frescobalds delight, the central figure of the procession was his old friend Thomas Cromwell The Italian merchant soon reaped the fruit of his generous kindness in other days. Cromwells hospitality and munificence quickly made him forget all his care and sorrow. (J. Telford, B. A.)

Sympathy with monarch appreciated

Sympathy for those who are stronger, wealthier, healthier, more influential, and higher in authority than ourselves, is not so easily rendered. It does not often occur to us to extend the sympathetic hand or word to those whom we look upon as in any way our superiors, and yet none need our sympathy more than such as these. The minister is expected to feel for and with his parishioners, but the truth is that the minister needs sympathetic encouragement from them quite as much. So, too, of the physician and his patient. One of Tennysons biographers quotes the Queen as saying of the Laureate, When I took leave of him I thanked him for his kindness, and said I needed it, for I had gone through much, and he said, You are so alone on that terrible height; it is terrible. The sovereign appreciated kindness, consideration, and sympathy from her subjects, and the poet had a full realisation of what it meant to be so high up as to be practically alone in the world. We easily give our pity, our sympathy, and even our helping hand, to those who seem to us in sore stress, but we are not so thoughtful about what consolation and strength we might give to those who need it because their very elevation isolates them, and cuts them off from those human relations to which we all look for sympathetic aid. (Great Thoughts.)

Barzillai

Barzillais truly Highland courtesy, also, is abundantly conspicuous in the too-short glimpse we get of the lord of Rogelim. For, how he anticipated all Davids possible wants! How he put himself into all Davids distressed place! How he did to David as David would have done to him! How he came down from his high seat, with all his years on his head, in order with his own hand to conduct the king over Jordan! And, then, with what sweetness and music of manner and of speech he excused himself out of all the royal rewards and honours and promotions David had designed and decreed to put upon him!

The service and the loyalty I owe,

In doing, pays itself. Your Highness part

Is to receive our duties; and our duties

Are to your throne and state children and servants,

Which do but what they should, by doing everything

Safe towards your love and honour.

The rest is labour which is not used for you.

The humility, also, of that Old Testament hero is already our New Testament humility in its depth and sweetness and beauty. In my spare hours this winter I have been delighting myself with Plutarchs Lives in Thomas Norths Bible English. But how often as I read one noble name after another have I exclaimed, Oh, if some of those great men of old had only been among the Greeks who came to Philip, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus! Had they only seen Jesus, or even heard or read Paul! Then what ornaments would they have been in all New Testament nobleness and courtesy and humility. (Alex. Whyte, D. D.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ki 2:7. Show kindness to the sons of Barzillai — David’s gratitude here expressed is remarkable. Barzillai only desired him to show kindness to Chimham, 2Sa 19:37; but he extends it to all his sons. Let them be of those that eat at thy table — As Mephibosheth had done at David’s table. It is probable Mephibosheth was now dead, for otherwise David would not have forgotten him. For so they came to me — Such kindness they showed me; inviting him to Barzillai’s house, who sustained him in his great distress, 2Sa 19:32.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2:7-9 Barzillai unwaveringly supported David during his trouble with Absalom, while Shimei openly opposed David (2 Sam 16:5-13; 19:6-23).

2:7 at your table: As he had done for Mephibosheth (2 Sam 9:6-13), David provided for Barzillai and his family. This privilege assured their continued loyalty.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

That is, they dealt mercifully with me.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 7. But show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai] 2Sa 19:31, &c.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(7) Shew kindness.—The charge of favour to the sons of Barzillai (see 2Sa_19:37-40) stands out in pleasant contrast. It has been noted that in Jer_41:17 there is a reference to “the habitation of Chimham,” as being “by Bethlehem,” David’s own birthplace; as if David had given him inheritance there, out of what was especially his own.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

7. sons of Barzillai the Gileadite] The deserving conduct of Barzillai, during David’s flight from Absalom, is narrated 2Sa_19:31 seqq. The Chimham there mentioned was probably a son of Barzillai, though we are not expressly told so. No other son is anywhere spoken of, but we find that Barzillai had daughters (Ezr_2:61; Neh_7:63) and he probably was father of a large family. Barzillai, at his advanced age, would not come alone to conduct David over Jordan, and though he only commends one person to the king’s attention there may have been several sons in his retinue.

of those that eat at thy table] A common mode in Eastern countries of shewing regard. Thus Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, was provided for at David’s table (2Sa_9:7; 2Sa_9:10-11), and such treatment put the recipient in a position like that of the king’s sons.

for so they came to me] i.e. With kind acts and generous supplies of food when I was in great need. Let their reward be of a similar nature.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite,.... Who perhaps was now dead, and therefore he would have kindness shown to his posterity for his sake:

and let them be of those that eat of thy table; as Mephibosheth had at his, who also perhaps was dead, since no notice is taken of him; and as David would have had Barzillai, but he desired to be excused on account of his age:

for so they came to me, when I fled because of thy brother, Absalom; that is, they came to him, not only Barzillai, but his sons it seems; and fed him or furnished him with provisions, when he was obliged to fly to the other side Jordan, because of the rebellion of his son Absalom.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

One of the sons of Barzillai here intended was probably Chimham (see the margin reference). Who the others were is not known. The family continued down to the return from the captivity, and still held property in Israel (compare Ezr 2:61 and Neh 7:63).

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Table, or of the meat, which had been served upon it; as was the custom at the court of Persia, Daniel i. 5. --- Brother. See 2 Kings xix. 31. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Quest. Why doth he not require the like kindness to Mephibosheth the son of his dear Jonathan?

Answ. Either he and his were now extinct, or by their after-miscarriages had forfeited his favour.

For so, i.e. with such kindness either as I cannot express, (as the particle so is elsewhere used,) or as I command thee to show to them.

They, i.e. Barzillai and his sons; for though Barzillai only be mentioned, 2Sa 17:27, yet his sons doubtless were instrumental in the business, especially Chimham, 2Sa 19:37,38.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

7. Barzillai the Gileadite — See marginal references, and notes on 2Sa_19:31-39.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And to the sons of Barzillai the "Beni-Barzillai" would include son, or sons, and all other descendants. It is highly probable, though it is not expressly stated, that Chimham was the son of Bar-zillai. (2Sa_19:37) Rawlinson says, "Who the other sons were is not known." It would be more correct to say that we do not know whether there were any other sons. The family was still existing temp. Ezra, (Ezr_2:61) where, it is worth noticing, we read of the daughters of Barzillai. (cf. Neh_7:63) In Jer_41:17, we read of the "habitation (tWdGe), caravanserai, khan of Chemoham," where the Keri has Chimham. It has been argued from the mention of this name, and the fact that their khan was near Bethlehem, that David or Solomon gave the family land there, and let them be of those that eat at thy table i.e., of those who have their sustenance from the royal table, not necessarily at it (Keil); Dan_1:5; cu 2Ki_25:29. Presence at the table is expressed by jl l. (2Sa 11, 12) It was esteemed an essential part of royal munificence throughout the East that the king should feed a large number of retainers and dependants. Cf. the account of Solomon"s daffy provision 1Ki_4:22, 1Ki_4:23; also 2Sa_19:28; Jud_1:7 for so i.e., in like manner, with food; they came to me lit., came near. The Hebrew br"q; often includes, as here, the idea of succour. Cf. Psalm Lam_3:57. Barzillai certainly came, (2Sa_17:27) and probably Chimham, but the Speaker"s Commentary is mistaken when it says that "Chimham is mentioned as present." He was present at the return of David (2Sa_19:31, 2Sa_19:38, but not necessarily before when I fled because of lit., "from the face of" Absalom thy brother.

The mention of Absalom, and those terrible days of revolt and anarchy, when he was constrained to flee for his life, seems to have reminded the dying king of one of the bitterest ingredients of that bitter cup of shame and suffering the cruel curses of Shimei. He remembers that the sin of Shimei, which was nothing else than treason and blasphemy, has so far escaped punishment. In a moment of generous enthusiasm, he had included Shimei in the general amnesty which he proclaimed on his return. (2Sa_19:23) He had thought, no doubt, at the time only of the offence against himself; he had forgotten his sacred and representative character as "the Lord"s anointed;" or if he had remembered it (ver. 21) the emotions of that memorable day had obscured or perverted his sense of justice and duty. But he has since realized and the thought weighs upon his conscience in the chamber of death that he then pardoned what he had no power to pardon, viz., a sin to which the Mosaic law attached the penalty of death. For blasphemy, as for murder, there was no expiation short of the death of the blasphemer (Lev_24:14-16; cf.; 1Ki_21:10, 1Ki_21:13) and blasphemy, like murder, though not perhaps to the same extent, involved those who heard it in its guilt, until they had discharged themselves of their sin upon the head of the guilty (Lev_14:14; cf. Lev_5:1) But Shimei, so far from having suffered the penalty of the law, had been twice protected against it; twice preserved alive, in defiance of law, by the supreme magistrate, the executor of law. And David, who has been charging his son to keep the law, now realizes that he himself has been a law breaker. He has kept his oath, sworn to his own or his people"s hurt, and he will keep it to the end. But Solomon is under no such obligation. He can demand the long arrears of justice, none the less due because of the time that has elapsed and the royal laches ("nullum tempus occurrit regi"); he can deal with the blasphemer as the law directs, and this David now charges him to do.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For so - With such kindness.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

General Information:

King David continues to tell Solomon how to lead Israel.

Barzillai

a man's name (See: How to Translate Names)

let them be among those who eat at your table

The table is a metonym for the home where the table is. AT: "welcome them to eat at your home" (See: Metonymy)

translationWords

Gilead

Absalom

brother

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.