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32 Now Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years old; and he had provided for the king while he was staying at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man. 33 And the king said to Barzillai, |Come over with me, and I will provide for your old age in Jerusalem with me.| 34 But Barzillai said to the king, |How many more days would I have there, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am now eighty years old. Can I discern between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear the voice of male and female singers? Why then should your servant be any further burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will cross the Jordan with the king for a short distance. Why should the king compensate me in this way? 37 Please let your servant return, so that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and my mother. But look, here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.| 38 And the king answered, |Kimham will go over with me, and I will do for him whatever I consider appropriate, and whatever you require of me I will do for you.| 39 All the people crossed over the Jordan, but the king remained. Then the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned to his own place. 40 So the king went over to Gilgal, and Kimham went over with him. All the people of Judah brought the king over, and also half the people of Israel. 41 Look, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, |Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king, and his household, over the Jordan, and all David's men with him?| 42 The men of Judah answered the men of Israel, |Because the king is a close relative to us. Why then are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s cost? Has he given us a gift? Or has he brought us a portion? | 43 Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, |We have ten shares in the king, and we are the firstborn rather than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?| But the comments of the men of Judah were more forceful than the comments of the men of Israel. 2 Samuel 19:32-43, New Heart English Bible. Public domain.
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