2 Samuel 19:37

37 but I beseech thee, that I thy servant turn again, and die in my city, and be buried beside the sepulchre of my father and of my mother; forsooth (my son) Chimham is thy servant, my lord the king, (so) go he with thee, and do thou to him that that seemeth good to thee.

2 Samuel 19:37 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 19:37

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.

2 Samuel 19:37 In-Context

35 I am of fourscore years today; whether my wits be quick to deem sweet thing either bitter, either meat and drink may delight thy servant, either may I hear more the voice of singers either of singsters? Why is thy servant to (be a) charge to my lord the king? (I am eighty years old now; can my wits still judge a thing bitter or sweet? or can food and drink still delight thy servant? or can I still hear the voice of singers and singsters? No! So why should thy servant be a burden to my lord the king?)
36 I thy servant shall go forth a little from (the) Jordan with thee, I have no need to this yielding; (I thy servant shall go forth a little from the Jordan River with thee, but I have no need for this reward;)
37 but I beseech thee, that I thy servant turn again, and die in my city, and be buried beside the sepulchre of my father and of my mother; forsooth (my son) Chimham is thy servant, my lord the king, (so) go he with thee, and do thou to him that that seemeth good to thee.
38 Therefore the king said to Barzillai, Chimham (shall) go forth with me; and I shall do to him whatever thing pleaseth thee (and I shall do for him whatever pleaseth thee), and thou shalt get all thing, that thou askest of me.
39 And when all the people and the king had passed [over] Jordan, the king abode; and the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he turned again into his place. (And when the king and all the people had crossed over the Jordan River, the king stopped there; and he kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and then Barzillai returned to his home.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.