Barzillai בַּרְזִלַּי
A Gileadite who provided for David during Absalom's rebellion.
Biography
Barzillai was a wealthy Gileadite from Rogelim who provided essential support to King David during his flight from his son Absalom's rebellion (2Sa.17.27-29). Along with others, Barzillai generously supplied food and provisions for David and his men. After Absalom's defeat, when David returned to Jerusalem, Barzillai accompanied him to the Jordan River (2Sa.19.31-39). Due to his advanced age of eighty, Barzillai declined David's invitation to join him in Jerusalem, but he sent his son Chimham in his place. David blessed Barzillai and promised to show kindness to his family. Later, on his deathbed, David instructed Solomon to show favor to Barzillai's descendants (1Ki.2.7). Barzillai's loyalty and generosity during David's time of need were remembered and honored by the king. In Ezr.2.61 and Neh.7.63, a priestly family is mentioned who traced their lineage to Barzillai, indicating the enduring impact of his devotion to David.
In Scripture
4 biblical books ; 2 with study content2 Samuel 5 verses
- 2 Samuel 17:27
"When David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,"
- 2 Samuel 19:31
"Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim; and he went over the Jordan with the king, to conduct him over the Jordan."
- 2 Samuel 19:32
"Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even eighty years old. He had provided the king with sustenance while he stayed at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man."
- 2 Samuel 19:33
"The king said to Barzillai, “Come over with me, and I will sustain you with me in Jerusalem.”"
- 2 Samuel 19:34
"Barzillai said to the king, “How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?"
1 Kings 1 verse
- 1 Kings 2:7
"But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table; for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother."
Ezra 1 verse Study available
- Ezra 2:61
"Of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, and the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name."
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Nehemiah 1 verse Study available
- Nehemiah 7:63
"Of the priests: the children of Hobaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name."
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | בַּרְזִלַּי | H1271G |
Barzillai
ht from Absalom (2Sa 17:27-29). When David was returning to Jerusalem after Absalom's defeat, Barzillai conducted him over Jordan, but being an old man of 80 years of age, he declined David's invitation to come to live in the capital, and sent instead his son Chimham (2Sa 19:31-39). David before his death charged Solomon to "show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai." (1Ki 2:7). Cheyne in Encyclopedia Biblica, without giving any reason, differentiates this Barzillai from Barzillai the Gileadite (Ezr 2:61 = Ne 7:63). See (2) below.
(2) The father of a family of priests who in Ezra's time, after the return of the exiles, could not trace their genealogy. "Therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood." This Barzillai had taken "a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite," and had adopted his wife's family name (Ezr 2:61,62 = Ne 7:63,64). His original name is given as Jaddus (the King James Version Addus) (1 Esdras 5:38). (See ZORZELLEUS; the Revised Version, margin "Phaezeldaeus.")
(3) Barzillai the Meholathite, whose son Adriel was married to Saul's daughter, either Michal (2Sa 21:8) or Merab (1Sa 18:19).
T. Rees
bas'-a-loth (A, Baaloth; B, Basalem; 1 Esdras 5:31 = Bazluth (Ezr 2:52) and Bazlith (Ne 7:54)): The descendants of Basaloth (temple-servants) r