Barzillai בַּרְזִלַּי
A Gileadite who provided for David during Absalom's rebellion.
Who is Barzillai in the Bible?
Barzillai the Gileadite was a wealthy landowner from Rogelim who provided crucial support to King David during his flight from his son Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 17:27-29). When David and his followers were forced to flee Jerusalem, Barzillai generously supplied them with food, bedding, and other provisions. After Absalom's defeat, the elderly Barzillai accompanied David back toward Jerusalem but declined the king's invitation to settle there, citing his advanced age of eighty years, and sent his son Chimham in his place instead (2 Samuel 19:31-39). David blessed Barzillai for his loyalty and later commanded his son Solomon to show kindness to Barzillai's descendants (1 Kings 2:7). Barzillai's selfless generosity during David's darkest hour made him a memorable example of faithful support, and his memory was honored by the royal house of Israel for generations.
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 came to Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim."
- 2 Samuel 19:31
"Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and send him on his way from there."
- 2 Samuel 19:32
"Barzillai was quite old, eighty years of age, and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the king while he stayed in Mahanaim."
- 2 Samuel 19:33
"The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.”"
- 2 Samuel 19:34
"But Barzillai replied, “How many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?"
1 Kings 1 verse
- 1 Kings 2:7
"But 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."
Ezra 1 verse
- Ezra 2:61
"And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name)."
Study Ezra →
Nehemiah 1 verse
- Nehemiah 7:63
"And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name)."
Study Nehemiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | בַּרְזִלַּי | Barzillai , the name of three Israelites |
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