2 Samuel 19:35 Meaning and Explanation
“I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Barzillai explains that at eighty his senses have dulled, and he would only be a burden to the king in Jerusalem.
What Does 2 Samuel 19:35 Mean?
Barzillai gives his reasons plainly. At eighty his faculties have faded: he can no longer keenly discern, taste his food and drink, or enjoy the voices of singers. The pleasures of the royal court would be lost on him. He does not wish to become a burden to the king he loves, and so he humbly asks to be excused.
Honest acceptance of one's limits is its own kind of wisdom. Barzillai neither pretends to a vigor he lacks nor clings to honors he cannot enjoy. He would rather bless the king than burden him. There is dignity in growing old gracefully, in knowing one's frame is dust, and in setting one's hope beyond the fading pleasures of this passing life.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 19:35
What does 2 Samuel 19:35 mean?
Barzillai explains that at eighty his senses have dulled, and he would only be a burden to the king in Jerusalem.