God’s Word Translation
2 Samuel 19:37
37Please let me go back so that I can die in my city near the grave of my father and mother. But here is Chimham. Let him go across with you. And do for him what you think is right.”
2 Samuel 19:37 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.
- New International Version (NIV)Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever you wish.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him go over with my lord the king, and do for him whatever seems good to you."
- New King James Version (NKJV)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.”
Context of 2 Samuel 19:37
35I’m 80 years old now. How can I tell what is pleasant and what is not? Can I taste what I eat or drink? Can I still hear the singing of men and women? Why should I now become a burden to you, Your Majesty? 36I’ll just cross the Jordan River with you. Why should you give me such a reward? Please let me go back so that I can die in my city near the grave of my father and mother. But here is Chimham. Let him go across with you. And do for him what you think is right.” 38“Chimham will go across with me,” the king said. “I will do for him whatever you want. Anything you wish I’ll do for you.” 39All the troops crossed the Jordan River, and then the king crossed. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then Barzillai went back home.
Read all of 2 Samuel 192 Samuel 19:37 word by word
יָֽשָׁב־נָ֤א עַבְדְּךָ֙ וְאָמֻ֣ת בְּעִירִ֔י עִ֛ם קֶ֥בֶר אָבִ֖י וְאִמִּ֑י וְהִנֵּ֣ה׀ עַבְדְּךָ֣ כִמְהָ֗ם יַֽעֲבֹר֙ עִם־אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַעֲשֵׂה־ל֕וֹ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־ט֖וֹב בְּעֵינֶֽיךָ׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Let thy servantעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- I pray thee, turn back againשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- that I may dieמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- in mine own cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- by the graveקֶ֫בֶרqeber qibrâh · graveH6913
- of my fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
- and of my motherאֵם'êm · motherH517
- Chimhamכִּמְהָםkimhâm · ChimhamH3643
- let him go overעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
- with my lordאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
- the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- and doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- to him what shall seem goodעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
- to him what shall seem goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 19:37
- Ecclesiastes 12:1Remember your Creator when you are young, before the days of trouble come and the years catch up with you. They will make you say, “I have found no pleasure in them.”
- Genesis 48:21Then Israel said to Joseph, “Now I’m about to die, but God will be with you. He will bring you back to the land of your fathers.
- Joshua 23:14“Pay attention, because I will soon die like everyone else. You know with all your heart and soul that not one single promise which the Lord your God has given you has ever failed to come true. Every single word has come true.
- Luke 2:29“Now, Lord, you are allowing your servant to leave in peace as you promised.
- 2 Timothy 4:6My life is coming to an end, and it is now time for me to be poured out as a sacrifice to God.
- 2 Peter 1:14I know that I will die soon. Our Lord Jesus Christ has made that clear to me.
- Genesis 47:30I want to rest with my ancestors. Take me out of Egypt, and bury me in their tomb.” “I will do as you say,” Joseph answered.
- Genesis 49:29Then he gave them these instructions, “I am about to join my ancestors in death. Bury me with my ancestors in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite.
- Genesis 50:13They carried him back to Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, east of Mamre. Abraham had bought this tomb from Ephron the Hittite.
- 1 Kings 13:22You came back, ate, and drank at this place about which he told you, ‘Don’t eat or drink there.’ That is why your dead body will not be allowed to be placed in the tomb of your ancestors.”
- 2 Samuel 19:40The king crossed the river to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the troops from Judah and half of the troops from Israel brought the king across.
- 1 Kings 2:7“Be kind to the sons of Barzillai from Gilead. Let them eat at your table. They helped me when I was fleeing from your brother Absalom.
- Jeremiah 41:17When they left Gibeon, they stayed near Bethlehem at Geruth Kimham on their way to Egypt.
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 19:37
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 37Thy servant Chimham - It is generally understood that this was Barzillai's son; and this is probable from 1 Kings 2:7, where, when David was dying, he said, Show kindness to the sons of Barzillai: and it is very probable that this Chimham was one of them. In Jeremiah 41:17; mention is made of the habitation of Chimham, which was near to Bethlehem; and it is reasonably conjectured that David had left that portion, which was probably a part of his paternal…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 37Chimham - From marginal references it appears that Chimham, having accepted David‘s offer, came and settled near Bethlehem. His house was still called after him at the time of the captivity.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 31-39Verses 31-39 Barzillai thought he had done himself honour in doing the king any service. Thus, when the saints shall be called to inherit the kingdom, they will be amazed at the recompence being so very far beyond the service, Mt 25:37. A good man would not go any where to be burdensome; or, will rather be so to his own house than to another's. It is good for all, but especially becomes old people, to think and speak much of dying. The grave is ready for…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31-40Barzillai was old and weak, so he turned down David's invitation to the royal court in Jerusalem. This invitation was a reward for Barzillai's help. Instead, David took Barzillai’s son Kimham (see also 1 Kings 2:7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 31-4031-40. Barzillai the Gileadite--The rank, great age, and chivalrous devotion of this Gileadite chief wins our respect. His declining to go to court, his recommendation of his son, his convoy across the Jordan, and his parting scene with the king, are interesting incidents. What mark of royal favor was bestowed on Chimham has not been recorded; but it is probable that David gave a great part of his personal patrimony in Beth-lehem to Chimham and his heirs…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 19:37
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries