The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 475

Vere. 31-40.-(Tmi: JORDAN.) Old Barzillai. "How long have I to live?" (ver. 84). Barzillai dwelt at Rogelim (his own city, ver. 37), in Gilead, where, amidst the rich highland pasturee, diligently euperintending his flocks and herds, he epent hie days in peace. He enjoyed "the blessing of the Old Testament "-prosperity; e.nd was" e. very great [wealthy] man,n Like Machir hen-Ammie! (eh. ix. 4), he was loyal, hospitable, and generous (eh. xvii. 28). One of his sons (1 Kings ii. 7), named Chimham, accompanied him to do honour to the king at his restoration. He was an octogenarian, hie memory reaching back to the appointment of the first King of Israel, and Saul's brilliant exploit on behalf of Jabesh-Gilead (1 Sam. xi. 11). Of his genuine piety, his answer to the king's invitation, " Come over with me, and I will provide (ver. 82) for thee in Jerusalem," leaves no room for doubt. "May we not legitimately infer that his conduct was influenced, not merely by loyalty to his earthly sovereign, bnt by the recognition of the higher spiritual truths, and the hope for Israel and the world, symbolized by the reign of David?" (Edersheim). More especially, be fur- nishes a picture of a beautiful old age (1 Sam. xii. 2). To every one, if he should live long enough, old age will come, with impaired powers of judgment, sensibility, and activity (Eccles. xii. 1); but whether it will be honourable, useful, and happy depends on the course previously pursued and the character possessed. "Clearness and quick- ness of intellect are gone; all taste for the pleasures and delights of sense is gone; ambition is dead; capacity of change is departed. What is left? The old roan lives in the past and in the future. The early child-love for the father and mother who hung over his cradle eighty years ago remains fresh. He cannot 'hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women; ' bnt he can hear, stealing through almost a century, the old tones, thin and ghostlike, of the dear ones whom he first learnt to love. The furthest past is fresh and vivid, and in memory of it is half his life. .Also he looks forward familiarly and calmly to the very near end, and thinks much of death. That thought keeps house with him now, and is nearer to him than the world .of living men is. • Thus one-half of his life is memory, and the other half is hope; and all his hopes are now reduced to one-the hope to die, and then to be laid down and go to sleep again beside his father and mother. .And so he retums to his city, and passes out of our sight" (Maclaren). Notice- I. BIB CLEAR RECOGNITION OF THE NEARNESS OF HIS APPROACHING END. "How many are the days of the years of my life?" etc. (vers. 84, 85; Gen. xlvii. 9). Many an old man considers not that he is old, and must shortly leaTe the world; he rather strives to keep both his age and his departure out of sight. But such a man as Barzillai is accustomed to reflect on his actual condition, daems himself a "stranger and pilgrim on the earth'' (Heb. xi. 18; 1 Chron. nix. 15); and feels certain that a few more steps will bring him to the end of his journey. He also understands what is possible and becoming during his brief continuance, and acts accordingly. "Can anything be more amiable than these simple and sensible words? What a cheerful and peaceful spirit do they breathe I and how does he put to shame very many old men of our day, who, the more the years perform their dismantling work upon them, are so much the more zealously bent on concealing the decay of their strength behind the glittering surround- ings of vain dignities, titles, and high alliances!" (Krummacher). " Usually t!:te nearer men approach to the earth, they are more earthly minded; and, which is strange to amazement, at the sunset of life are providing for a long day" (W. Bates). II. His CHEERFUL RESIGNATION UNDER THE INFIRMITIES OF ADVANCED AGE, He utters no complaint (such as is too common with others) at the failure of his mental and bodily powers, the loss of earthly pleasures formerly possessed, his incapacity for new enter- .prises and excitements, which, at an earlier age, might have been suitable and desirable. His language is singularly free from fretfulness, disappointment, and discontent. He perceives and acquiesces with a" glad contentment" in the will of God, who "bath made everything beautiful in its season" (Eccles. iii. 11), and, although deprived of some enjoyments, he is not destitute of others of a higher order. " It is this, the tasteless meats, the deafness to the singing men and singing women, the apathy to common pleasures, for which old age is pitied and deplored; but this is God's mercy, it is not his vengeance ; he deadens the keenness of our bodily senses only to guide us to immortality; we are disgusted with the pleasures of youth, we deride the objects of manly ambition, we are wearied with one worldly trifle or another, that our thoughts 486 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [on, XIX. 1-43,