Matthew Henry on 2 Samuel 19:31-39
David had already graced the triumphs of his restoration with the generous remission of the injuries that had been done to him; we have him here gracing them with a no less generous reward of the kindnesses that had been shown to him. Barzillai, the Gileadite, who had a noble seat at Rogelim, not far from Mahanaim, was the man who, of all the nobility and gentry of that country, had been most kind to David in his distress. If Absalom had prevailed, it is likely he would have suffered for his loyalty; but now he and his shall be no losers by it. Here is,
I. Barzillai's great respect to David, not only as a good man, but as his righteous sovereign: He provided him with much sustenance, for him…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 19:37
buried by the grave of my father and of my mother--This is an instance of the strong affection of people in the East towards the places of sepulture appropriated to their families.
Adam Clarke on 2 Samuel 19:39
The king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him - The kiss was the token of friendship and farewell; the blessing was a prayer to God for his prosperity, probably a prophetical benediction.
John Gill on 2 Samuel 19:39
And all the people went over Jordan,.... That were with David:
and when the king was come over; over Jordan, had got to the other side of it, whither Barzillai accompanied him:
the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; took his leave of him with a kiss, as friends were wont to do at parting, thanked him for all his favours, wished him well, and prayed to God to bless him with all blessings temporal and spiritual:
and he returned to his own place: his own city Rogelim, having crossed over again the river Jordan.
Keil & Delitzsch on 2 Samuel 19:31-39
Barzillai comes to greet David. - Sa2 19:31. Barzillai the octogenarian "had also come down from Roglim and gone across the Jordan with the king, to escort him over the river." את־בּירדּן is the portion in, or over, the Jordan. את is the sign of the accusative, "the piece in the Jordan," and no further. This is the correct explanation as given by Bttcher, after Gesenius and Maurer; and the Keri היּרדּן is a bad emendation.
Sa2 19:32-37
As Barzillai had supplied the king with provisions during his stay in Mahanaim (שׁיבה for ישׁיבה, like צואה for יצואה, and other words of the same kind), because he was very wealthy (lit. great), David would gladly have taken him with him to Jerusalem, to repa…
