2 Samuel 19:38 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the king answered, "Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you, and all that you desire of me I will do for you."

NIV: The king said, "Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever you wish. And anything you desire from me I will do for you."

NASB: And the king answered, 'Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight; and whatever you require of me, I will do for you.'

CSB: The king replied, "Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you, and whatever you desire from me I will do for you."

NLT: Good,' the king agreed. 'Kimham will go with me, and I will help him in any way you would like. And I will do for you anything you want.'

KJV: And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.

NKJV: And the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Now whatever you request of me, I will do for you.”

Second Samuel 19:31–40 records David's happy farewell to a good friend. When David heard Absalom had betrayed him and was marching to Jerusalem, there was no time to prepare. They just fled (2 Samuel 15:13–14). They found protection in Mahanaim where Barzillai brought everything from food to beds (2 Samuel 17:24–29). The rebellion is over, and David wants to reward Barzillai, but the old man just wants to return home. David takes Chimham, perhaps Barzillai's son or grandson, instead.

David comes home after a tragic and costly rebellion. His son Absalom is dead, and rebel fighters have fled back home (2 Samuel 18). David falls into self-indulgent grief until Joab reminds him of his soldiers' honor. On the journey back to the Jordan, David reconciles with Shimei, Mephibosheth, and the elders of Judah, and blesses Barzillai. The elders of the northern tribes arrive and argue with Judah over who loves the king more—the king they tried to kill. The first chance they get, the men from Israel leave and try to start another rebellion (2 Samuel 20:1–2).

David's son, Absalom, manipulated the elders of the tribes, convincing them that he would make a better king than David (2 Samuel 15—17). During the one-day civil war, Joab killed Absalom, against David's orders (2 Samuel 18). David falls into a very public expression of mourning until Joab tells him to honor his living servants, not his dead, traitorous son. On the way to Jerusalem, David tries to forgive his enemies. The elders of Israel claim to welcome him back. But after squabbling with the elders from Judah, they join a new rebellion (2 Samuel 10:1–2).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.