1 Kings 2:7
in 1 Kings 2But show loving devotion to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, because they stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table; for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom thy brother.
KJV
But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.
⋯
This verse in 1 Kings 2
Commentary
5 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
One of the sons of Barzillai here intended was probably Chimham (see the margin reference). Who the others were is not known. The family continued down to the return from the captivity, and still held property in Israel (compare Ezr 2:61 and Neh 7:63).
This site's exposition
Barzillai the Gileadite
Barzillai's sons receive the opposite charge, kindness rather than reckoning, for the hospitality shown at Mahanaim during Absalom's revolt in 2 Samuel 17:27-29 and 19:31-39. The two charges sit side by side, mercy for a debt of loyalty and justice for a debt of blood, and David treats both as unfinished business owed rather than as grudges held.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite,....
When David, upon his death-bed, was remembering the injuries that had been done, he could not forget the kindnesses that had been shown, but leaves it as a charge upon his son to return them.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
But show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai - See the notes on 2Sa 19:31 (note), etc.
The words behind it
16 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְלִבְנֵ֨י | velivnei | and to [the] sons of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| בַרְזִלַּ֤י | varzilai | Barzillai | H1271 → | |
| הַגִּלְעָדִי֙ | hagiladi | the Gileadite | H1569 → | |
| תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־ | taaseh- | you will do | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| חֶ֔סֶד | chesed | loyalty | H2617 → | 247 times |
| וְהָי֖וּ | vehayu | and they will be | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| בְּאֹכְלֵ֣י | beokhelei | among [those who] eat of | H398 → | 810 times |
| שֻׁלְחָנֶ֑ךָ | shulchanekha | table your | H7979 → | 71 times |
| כִּי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| כֵן֙ | khen | thus | H3651 → | 771 times |
| קָרְב֣וּ | karevu | they drew near | H7126 → | 280 times |
| אֵלַ֔י | ʾelai | to me | H413 → | 5510 times |
| בְּבָרְחִ֕י | bevarechi | when fled I | H1272 → | 63 times |
| מִפְּנֵ֖י | mipenei | from before | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| אַבְשָׁל֥וֹם | ʾavshalom | Absalom | H53 → | 110 times |
| אָחִֽיךָ׃ | ʾachikha | brother your | H251 → | 630 times |
וְלִבְנֵ֨יand to [the] sons of
velivneiH1121 →4930 times
בַרְזִלַּ֤יBarzillai
varzilaiH1271 →
הַגִּלְעָדִי֙the Gileadite
hagiladiH1569 →
תַּֽעֲשֶׂה־you will do
taaseh-H6213 →2628 times
חֶ֔סֶדloyalty
chesedH2617 →247 times
וְהָי֖וּand they will be
vehayuH1961 →3559 times
בְּאֹכְלֵ֣יamong [those who] eat of
beokheleiH398 →810 times
שֻׁלְחָנֶ֑ךָtable your
shulchanekhaH7979 →71 times
כִּי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
כֵן֙thus
khenH3651 →771 times
קָרְב֣וּthey drew near
karevuH7126 →280 times
אֵלַ֔יto me
ʾelaiH413 →5510 times
בְּבָרְחִ֕יwhen fled I
bevarechiH1272 →63 times
מִפְּנֵ֖יfrom before
mipeneiH6440 →2123 times
אַבְשָׁל֥וֹםAbsalom
ʾavshalomH53 →110 times
אָחִֽיךָ׃brother your
ʾachikhaH251 →630 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Samuel 9:7“Do not be afraid,” said David, “for surely I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you…
it leads to
- 2 Samuel 19:28
For all the house of my grandfather deserves death from my lord the king, yet you have set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right, then, do I have…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Samuel 9:1
Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?”
- 2 Samuel 9:3
So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family to whom I can show the kindness of God?” Ziba answered, “There is still Jonathan’s son, who is lame in both feet.”
- Luke 1:29–30
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
- Ruth 2:11–12
Boaz replied, “I have been made fully aware of all you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, how you left your father and mother and the land of your…
- 2 Samuel 19:28
Through
Luke 12:37Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself…
it leads to
- 2 Peter 3:14
Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.
- Matthew 24:42
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.
- John 13:4–5
So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist.
- 2 Peter 3:14
About 1 Kings
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.