Barzillai

Barzil´lai, a wealthy old Gileadite of Rogelim, who distinguished himself by his loyalty when David fled beyond the Jordan from his son Absalom. He sent in a liberal supply of provisions, beds, and other conveniences for the use of the king’s followers (2Sa 17:27; 2Sa 19:32). On the king’s triumphant return, Barzillai attended him as far as the Jordan, but declined, by reason of his advanced age, to proceed to Jerusalem and receive the favors to which he had entitled himself.

1. Of Meholah in Simeon; father of Adriel, who married Merab, the daughter of Saul, 1Sa 18:19 2Sa 21:8 \par 2. An aged and wealthy Gileadite, a friend of David when he was in exile during Absalom’s rebellion. He sent a liberal supply of provisions, beds, and other conveniences for the use of the king’s followers, 2Sa 17:27 19:32. On David’s return, Barzillai accompanied him as far as Jordan, but declined, in consequence of his great age, to proceed to Jerusalem, and receive the favors the king had intended for him. David, in his final charge to Solomon, enjoined upon him to show kindness to Barzillai’s family, and to make them members of the royal household, 1Ki 2:7 \par 3. A priest who married a daughter of the above, Ezr 2:61 Neh 7:63 .\par

Barzil’la-i. (iron, that is, strong).

1. A wealthy Gileadite, who showed hospitality to David, when he fled from Absalom. 2Sa 17:27. (B.C. 1023). He declined the king’s offer of ending his days at court. 2Sa 19:32-39.

2. A Meholathite, whose son, Adriel, married Michal, Saul’s daughter. 2Sa 21:8. (B.C. before 1062).

3. Son-in-law to Barzillai, the Gileadite. Ezr 2:61; Neh 7:63-64. (B.C. before 536).

("iron".) A Gileadite chief. of Rogelim, whose friendship David probably made during his flight from Saul in that trans-Jordanic region. He ministered disinterestedly, sympathizingly, and liberally, to David’s wants during the whole time of his stay at, Mahanaim in his flight from Absalom (2Sa 17:27-29; 2Sa 19:32-40). David in prosperity did not forget the friend of his adversity: "Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem." But Barzillai was unmercenary, and sought his reward simply in having done his duty.

Instead of grasping at honors and favors at court, he remembers his age, fourscore, "How long have I to live, that I should go P" and prefers to die among his own people, independent though in less grandeur. In the father’s stead Chimham and other sons of his shared David’s favor, and were commended by him to Solomon (1Ki 2:7). Chimham’s name appears ages subsequently in Jeremiah’s time, "the habitation of Chimham by Bethlehem" being the gift of David to him out of his own patrimony, and bearing that name to late generations: an undesigned coincidence and mark of truth (Jer 41:17). (See BETHLEHEM.)

(Heb. Barzillay’, בִּרְזַלִּי, of iron, i.e. strong; Sept. Βερζελλί, but in Ezra Βερζελλαϊv, Josephus Βετζιλαῖος, Ant. 7:9, 8), the name of three men.

1. A Meholathite, father of Adriel, which latter was the second husband of Merab, Saul’s daughter (2Sa 21:8). B.C. ante 1062.

2. A wealthy old Gileadite of Rogelim, who distinguished himself by his loyalty when David fled beyond the Jordan from his son Absalom, B.C. 1023 (see Ewald, Isr. Gesch. 3, 663 sq.). He sent in a liberal supply of provisions, beds, and other conveniences for the use of the king’s followers (2Sa 17:27). On the king’s triumphant return, Barzillai attended him as far as the Jordan, but declined, by reason of his advanced age (and probably, also, from a feeling of independence), to proceed to Jerusalem and end his days at court, merely recommending (his son) Chimham as a suitable person to receive the royal favors (2Sa 19:32; 2Sa 19:39). On his death-bed David recalled to mind this kindness, and commended Barzillai’s children to the care of Solomon (1Ki 2:7).

3. A priest who married a descendant of the preceding, and assumed the same name; his genealogy in consequence became so confused that his descendants, on the return from the captivity, were set aside as unfit for the priesthood (Ezr 2:61). B.C. ante 536.

Barzillai (bär-zĭl’la-î or lâi), iron, of iron. 1. A Gileadite, distinguished for his hospitality and liberality towards David during the revolt of Absalom. 2Sa 17:27; 2Sa 19:31-39; 1Ki 2:7. 2. The father of Adriel. 1Sa 18:19; 2Sa 21:8. 3. One of the priests. Ezr 2:61; Neh 7:63.

[Barzil’lai]

1. Gileadite of Rogelim, who liberally supplied David with provisions when he fled from Absalom. For his faithful services David invited him to return with him to Jerusalem; but being 80 years old he pleaded his great age and declined the honour, but requested that Chimham might go in his stead. 2Sa 17:27; 2Sa 19:31-39; 1Ki 2:7.

2. Meholathite, father of Adriel. 2Sa 21:8.

3. Priest who had married a daughter of Barzillai of Rogelim and had adopted that name. Ezr 2:61; Neh 7:63.

By: Morris Jastrow, Jr., Charles Foster Kent

A wealthy Gileadite noble of Rogelim, who, together with two other prominent chieftains of the east-Jordanic territory, met David at Mahanaim, when he was fleeing with only a few followers from Absalom, and provided the king and his weary men with food (II Sam. xvii. 27-29). After the death of Absalom, Barzillai again appeared to escort David across the Jordan on his triumphant return to his capital. In gratitude for his loyalty the king invited Barzillai to become his permanent guest; but the aged Gileadite declined the honor, preferring to spend his few remaining years in his native town. In his stead he sent his son Chimham (II Sam. xix. 32-41 [R. V. 31-40]). On his death-bed David remembered the service of Barzillai, commending his sons to the special care and favor of Solomon (I Kings ii. 7).

Even after the Captivity the name of the loyal Gileadite was preserved in tradition; for in the census of Ezra (ii. 61) and Nehemiah (vii. 63) a priestly clan bears the name "Children of Barzillai," its members tracing their descent to a marriage with one of Barzillai's daughters.

BARZILLAI.—1. The name of a chieftain of Gilead who brought supplies to David and his army at Mahanaim (2Sa 17:27 ff.). After the death of Absalom, Barzillai went across Jordan with the king, but declined to go to court (2Sa 19:31 ff.). On his deathbed David charged Solomon to ‘shew kindness to the sons of Barzillai’ (1Ki 2:7). His descendants are mentioned in Ezr 2:51, Neh 7:63; Neh 7:2. The Meholathite whose son Adriel is said (2Sa 21:8) to have married Michal [read Merab, cf. 1Sa 18:19], the daughter of Saul.

J. G. Tasker.

bar-zil´ā̇-ı̄, bar-zil´ı̄ (בּרזלּי, bārzillay; Βερζελλί, Berzellı́, “man of iron” (BDB, but compare Cheyne, Encyclopedia Biblica)):

(1) A Gileadite of Rogelim who brought provisions to David and his army to Mahanaim, in their flight 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 = Neh 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, Ezr 2:62 = Neh 7:63, Neh 7:64). 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).