2 Samuel 19:34

34 Then Barzillai said to the king, "What [are] the days of the years of my life, that I should go with the king to Jerusalem?

2 Samuel 19:34 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 19:34

And Barzillai said unto the king
In answer to the grateful proposal he made:

how long have I to live;
that could not be said with exactness by any; but it might be probably conjectured from the age he was of, and the infirmities that attended him, that he could not live long; it was but a short time he had to be in the world:

that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?
take so long a journey as that, seeing he might die before he got thither; and if he did not, since it could not be thought he should live long, he could not think of it, or judge it advisable at such an age to take such a journey, change his place of abode, and manner of living.

2 Samuel 19:34 In-Context

32 Now Barzillai [was] very old, {eighty years old}. Now he had provided the king [with food] while he [was] staying at Mahanaim, for he [was] a very wealthy man.

33 The king said to Barzillai, "You cross over with me, and I will provide for you [to dwell] with me in Jerusalem."

34 Then Barzillai said to the king, "What [are] the days of the years of my life, that I should go with the king to Jerusalem?

35 I [am] eighty years old today. Can I discern between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be a burden any longer to my lord the king?

36 Your servant shall go over the Jordan with the king a little way, but why should the king recompense me with this reward?