2 Samuel 19:35

I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Barzillai addresses King David following his return to Jerusalem, declining the invitation to accompany the monarch to the capital. He grounds his refusal in his advanced age and declining physical faculties.

The words — The phrase בֶּן־שְׁמֹנִים שָׁנָה (ben-shemonim shanah) literally renders "[am] a son of eighty years," establishing his chronological age. The verb אֵדַע ('eda) paired with בֵּין טוֹב (ben tov) conveys a literal inability to discern between good and bad.

The thread — The verse directly answers David's earlier warning in 2 Samuel 15:33 that Barzillai would become a burden if he continued with the king. It also aligns with the lifespan boundary noted in Psalms 90:10 and contrasts with the royal court's reliance on singers described in Ezra 2:65.

Why it lands — The text presents a straightforward accounting of physical decline and sensory loss without romanticizing aging. It requires the reader to accept practical limitation as a valid reason to decline royal favor rather than forcing continued service.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

בֶּן־ben-[am] a son of שְׁמֹנִ֣יםshe.mo.Nimeighty שָׁנָה֩sha.Nahyear[s]אָנֹכִ֨י'a.no.KhiI הַיּ֜וֹםhai./Yomthis/ day הַאֵדַ֣ע׀ha./'e.Da'¿/ do I know בֵּין־bein-between ט֣וֹבTovgood לְרָ֗עle./Ra'and/ evil אִם־'im-or?יִטְעַ֤םyit.'Amwill he taste עַבְדְּךָ֙'av.de./Khaservant/ your אֶת־'et-<obj.>אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.Sher[that] which אֹכַל֙'o.KhalI will eat וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sher[that] which אֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה'esh.TehI will drink אִם־'im-or?אֶשְׁמַ֣ע'esh.Ma'will I hear ע֔וֹדodstill בְּק֖וֹלbe./Kol<in>/ [the] voice of שָׁרִ֣יםsha.Rim[male] singers וְשָׁר֑וֹתve./sha.Rotand/ female singers וְלָמָּה֩ve./la./Mahand/ <to>/ why?יִֽהְיֶ֨הyih.Yehwill he become עַבְדְּךָ֥'av.de./Khaservant/ your עוֹד֙'Odstill לְמַשָּׂ֔אle./ma.Sa'<into>/ a burden אֶל־'el-to אֲדֹנִ֖י'a.do.N/ilord/ my הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha./Me.lekhthe/ king

King James Version

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?

Cross-references

2 Samuel 15:33 David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.
Ezra 2:65 in addition to their 7,337 menservants and maidservants, as well as their 200 male and female singers.
Psalms 90:10 The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty if we are strong—yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.
Exodus 2:8 “Go ahead,” Pharaoh’s daughter told her. And the girl went and called the boy’s mother.
Exodus 12:4 If the household is too small for a whole lamb, they are to share with the nearest neighbor based on the number of people, and apportion the lamb accordingly.
2 Samuel 13:25 “No, my son,” the king replied, “we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he was not willing to go, but gave him his blessing.
Nehemiah 7:67 in addition to their 7,337 menservants and maidservants, as well as their 245 male and female singers.
Job 6:30 Is there iniquity on my tongue? Can my mouth not discern malice?
Job 12:11 Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes its food?