2 Samuel 19:32-43 ▼

32 Now Barzillai was a very old man at the age of 80 years. A very wealthy man, Barzillai had provided for king David during his sojourn in Mahanaim.

33 So the king invited Barzillai, |Cross the Jordan River with me, live with me in Jerusalem, and I'll provide for you there.|

34 |How many more years do I have to live,| Barzillai replied to the king, |that I should move to Jerusalem with the king?

35 I'm now 80 years old! I can hardly tell the difference between what tastes good or bad! I can't tell what I eat or drink! I can't hear the voice of men and women when they sing! So why should your servant be an added burden to your majesty the king?

36 Your servant will cross the Jordan River with the king for a short distance, but why should the king offer me this reward?

37 Please let your servant return so I can die in my own home town near the grave of my father and mother. Meanwhile, here is your servant Chimham! Let him accompany your majesty the king. Please do for him whatever seems best to you.|

38 So the king answered, |Chimham will accompany me, and I'll do for him whatever seems best to you! I'll do anything for you that you want!|

39 Then all the people crossed the Jordan River, followed by the king. The king embraced Barzillai, blessed him, and then Barzillai returned to his home.

40 As the king crossed over the Jordan River to Gilgal, Chimham accompanied him, as did all the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel.

41 Not long afterward, all the men of Israel started coming to the king, complaining to him, |Why did our relatives in Judah's army sneak you away, taking the king and his household over the Jordan River, along with David's army?|

42 Everybody from Judah shouted to the men from Israel, |We did this because the king is closely related to us. So why are you angry about this? Have we lived off the king's expense? Have we appropriated anything for ourselves?|

43 But the men from Israel answered the men from Judah: |We represent ten of the tribes of Israel! So we have more right to David than you do! Why haven't you taken us seriously? Weren't we the first to talk about bringing back our king?| But what the people of Judah had to say was harsher than what the people of Israel were saying.