2 Samuel 19:37

2Sa 19:37 Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, [and be buried] by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.

Ver. 37. That I may die in mine own city.] Where I may retire and rest me, prepare for death, lay hold on eternal life. This is, or ought to be, the old man’s chief study.

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.

2Sa_19:37

Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city.

Dying at home

In our last great trial, in our conflict with the king of terrors, what a consolation to feel that our friends are about us, that we are at home.

1. How much earthly friends may help us in the hour of death.

2. The limitation of this help.

3. The Christians consolation that wherever death may overtake him he will die in the midst of friends. His Elder Brother will be there, and God, his father, and he will be encompassed with a host of heavenly witnesses, friends in Jesus Christ. Through death we will go from our earthly home to our heavenly home. (Homiletic Review.)

Going home to die

When Sir Walter Scott returned from Italy, in sickness and mental affliction, and was approaching his home in Selkirkshire, the old familiar landmarks seemed to recall him to his wonted animation. That is Gala Water! Yonder are the Eildon Hills! was his joyous exclamation. When at last Abbotsford appeared in sight, he became so excited that he desired to be raised up in the carriage that he might look on his beautiful home. Yet he was only going home to die.

Love of home

Sir Walter Scott used to say that he loved the honest grey hills of Scotland as his very life, and that if he did not see the heather once a year be thought he should die.

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

My son.

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

buried by the grave of my father and of my mother--This is an instance of the strong affection of people in the East towards the places of sepulture appropriated to their families.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 37. Thy servant Chimham] It is generally understood that this was Barzillai's son; and this is probable from 1Kg 2:7, where, when David was dying, he said, Show kindness to the sons of Barzillai: and it is very probable that this Chimham was one of them. In Jer 41:17 mention is made of the habitation of Chimham, which was near to Bethlehem; and it is reasonably conjectured that David had left that portion, which was probably a part of his paternal estate, to this son of Barzillai.

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

(37) Chimham.—It appears from 1Ki_2:7, where David gives charge to Solomon to care for Barzillai’s sons, that Chimham was his son. This might be supposed from the narrative here, but is not expressly stated. In Jer_41:17 mention is made of “the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem,” from which it is supposed that David conveyed to Chimham a house upon his own paternal estate.

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

37. and be buried by the grave, &c.] The ancient affection for the family sepulchre is very remarkable. See Jdg_8:32; 2Sa_2:32; 2Sa_17:23; 2Sa_21:14; 1Ki_13:22.

Chimham] Barzillai’s son, who with his brothers was specially commended to Solomon’s care (1Ki_2:7). From the mention of “the habitation of Chimham which is by Bethlehem” in Jer_41:17, it has been ingeniously inferred that Chimham received a grant of land from David’s patrimony at Bethlehem, which retained his name for at least four centuries. See Stanley’s Lect. II. 152.

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.

Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again,.... To his own city, after he is gone ever Jordan, and seen the king a little way on his journey:

that I may die in my own city: the city of Rogelim, where perhaps he was born, and had lived all his days, and where it is natural for people to desire to die, even in their native place:

and be buried by the grave of my father, and of my mother: or "in" their grave, as Kimchi and Ben Melech, in the sepulchre of his fathers, where men usually choose to be buried:

but behold, thy servant Chimham: who was his son; and so the Syriac and Arabic versions express it, my son Chimham:

let him go over with my lord the king; not only over Jordan, but to Jerusalem with him:

and do to him what shall seem good unto thee; advance him, and put him into any post or office the king should think fit, or bestow a pension upon him, or give him an estate to live upon, or whatever he pleased.

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

Chimham - From marginal references it appears that Chimham, having accepted David’s offer, came and settled near Bethlehem. His house was still called after him at the time of the captivity.

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

Chamaam, is supposed to have been the son of the good old man. (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).

Chimham, Barzillai’s son, 1Ki 2:7

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

37. By the grave of my father — The natives of a hill country generally have a tender desire to be buried among their kindred and their native hills.

Chimham — Generally supposed to have been a son of Barzillai, whom David kindly remembered at his death, (1Ki_2:7,) and whose dwelling near Beth-lehem, probably given him from David’s paternal estate, is spoken of by the prophet Jeremiah. Jer_41:17.

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

That I may die in mine own city...by the grave of my father and of my mother. The inserted words, "and be buried," are very matter of fact and commonplace. What Barzillai wished was that, when death overtook him, it should find him in the old abode of his family, where his father and mother had.died, and where their tombs were. This regard for the family sepulchre was hereditary among the Israelites, who followed in it the example of their forefather. (see Gen_49:29-31) Chimham. David remembered Barzillai"s kindness to the last, and. on his dying bed specially commended Chimham and his brothers to the care of Solomon. In Jer_41:17 we read of "the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem," whence it has been supposed that David also endowed the sen of Barzillai with land near his own city. Stanley ("Jewish Church," 2:201) considers that this was a caravanserai founded by Chimham for the hospitable lodging of travellers on their way to Egypt, and that Mary and Joseph found shelter there. It lay to the south of Bethlehem; but there is nothing more than the name to connect it with the son of Barzillai. In ver. 40 he is called in the Hebrew Chimhan.

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

That I may die in mine own city - That my bones may with little ado, be carried to the place of their rest. The grave is ready for me: let me go and get ready for it, go and die in my nest.

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

General Information:

Barzillai asks that Kimham be allowed to take his place instead with David.

Kimham

This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)

by the grave of my father and my mother

This does not mean that he wants to die right next to their graves, but rather, that he wants to die in the city where they are buried. This can be stated clearly. AT: "where my father's and my mother's graves are" or "where my father and my mother are buried" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Let him cross over

This refers to crossing the Jordan River. AT: "Let him cross over the Jordan" (See: Ellipsis)

translationWords

die

grave

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

Your servant will just cross over. You servant will accompany you a little further after you cross the Yardein.

This type of reward. That is not good for me.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.