2 Samuel 19:31-43
David’s Kindness to Barzillai
31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And he had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man. 33 And the king said to Barzillai, “Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”
34 But Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am today eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37 Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.”
38 And the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Now whatever you request of me, I will do for you.” 39 Then all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had crossed over, the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place.
The Quarrel About the King
40 Now the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king, and also half the people of Israel. 41 Just then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, “Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king, his household, and all David’s men with him across the Jordan?”
42 So all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is a close relative of ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?”
43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, “We have ten shares in the king; therefore we also have more right to David than you. Why then do you despise us—were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?”
Yet the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
Barzillai the rich Gileadite came to meet David to cross the Jordan with him, the same man who had supplied David while in exile out of the abundance God had provided. The king offered to take him along and provide for the aged man, but Barzillai instead offered his servant Chimham since he was too old to enjoy the provisions of the king himself. He also did not want to to be a burden since he was eighty years old. David then blessed his benefactor and crossed the Jordan escorted by half of Israel and all of Judah who were closer related to him. This caused some conflict to the Israelites because they claimed ten shares, one for each tribe, was more than just one of Judah, as if they owned him. It took a heated exchange for Judah to speak louder and more fiercely to sway the controversy as they reminded Israel that they did not taken any gift to sway David to themselves even if Israel first advised bringing the king back after Absalom’s demise. We see the kindness returned by David to his benefactor and then then argument to earn his favor as he returned without the one who had shown him such grace. We can learn from these accounts to appreciate the servants of the Lord who provide for us (Galatians 6:6, Philippians 4:16-17, 1 Timothy 5:17-18, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, Hebrews 13:17) and not to argue over who deserves him more or more for themselves. Our kindness and grace is rewarded by the Lord as crowns of blessings. There is no entitlement to grace.
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