^19:31Now when Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim, he crossed the Jordan with the king so he could send him on his way from there.⁴²^19:32But Barzillai was very old—eighty years old, in fact—and he had taken care of the king when he stayed in Mahanaim, for he was a very rich⁴³ man. ^19:33So the king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will take care of you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”

^19:34Barzillai replied to the king, “How many days do I have left to my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? ^19:35I am presently eighty years old. Am I able to discern good and bad? Can I⁴⁴ taste what I eat and drink? Am I still able to hear the voices of male and female singers? Why should I⁴⁵ continue to be a burden to my lord the king? ^19:36I will cross the Jordan with the king and go a short distance.⁴⁶ Why should the king reward me in this way? ^19:37Let me⁴⁷ return so that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But look, here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever seems appropriate to you.”

^19:38The king replied, “Kimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever I deem appropriate. And whatever you choose, I will do for you.”

^19:39So all the people crossed the Jordan, as did the king. After the king had kissed him and blessed him, Barzillai returned to his home.⁴⁸

Read in Logos

Footnotes

42 The reading אֶת־בַיַּרְדֵּן (’et-vayyarden, “in the Jordan”) is odd syntactically. The use of the preposition after the object marker אֶת (’et) is difficult to explain. Graphic confusion is likely in the ; the translation assumes the reading מִיַּרְדֵּן (miyyarden, “from the Jordan”). Another possibility is to read the definite article on the front of “Jordan” (הַיַּרְדֵּן, hayyarden; “the Jordan”).
43 Heb “great.”
44 Heb “your servant.”
45 Heb “your servant.”
46 Heb “Like a little your servant will cross the Jordan with the king.”
47 Heb “your servant.”
48 Heb “to his place.”