Barzillai
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When David fled Jerusalem and crossed over the Jordan to the east, he had been met by three men who welcomed him and provided his entourage with supplies.
“And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that 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, brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine [cows], for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness” (2 Samuel 17:27–29). The supplies were a welcome relief after the rapid flight from Jerusalem.
Little is known about these three men aside from their kindness.
Shobi may have been the son of Nahash, the king of Ammon, who helped David when Saul was hunting him (2 Samuel 10:2).
Machir was “the man who had been the guardian of Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan. . . . As Machir once had shown kindness to the house of Saul, so now he showed kindness to David.” Barzillai “was the ancestor, through a daughter, of a family of priests who were called the children of Barzillai (Ezra 2:61–63).” Barzillai, following the courteous Middle Eastern custom of a host, accompanied his guest partway on his return journey.
The Bible mentions Barzillai as “a very aged man” at eighty years old (2 Samuel 19:32). David offered to feed Barzillai if he would accompany him to Jerusalem, but Barzillai respectfully declined. He “sought nothing for himself. God had been kind to him. There was nothing further to seek in the pleasures of this world. Life for David during his exile beyond the Jordan had been happier because of the kindness of Barzillai.” This gracious host bade him good-bye after seeing him safely to the west bank.
Giving, without thought of reward, is the mark of a true Christian (Luke 6:35).
