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Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

IntroIndex©

BARZILLAI

1. One of three men who offered hospitality to David and his supporters at Mahanaim during the dangerous time of Absalom’s rebellion (2 Sm 17:27). After Absalom was defeated, Barzillai, a Gileadite, came to the Jordan River as David prepared to cross it in a triumphant return to Jerusalem. The 80-year-old Barzillai declined King David’s invitation to be his permanent guest in Jerusalem but sent his son Chimham in his place (19:31-40; cf. 1 Kgs 2:7).

2. Adriel’s father. Adriel married Saul’s daughter Merab (2 Sm 21:8; cf. 1 Sm 18:19). Barzillai was thus the paternal grandfather of five of the seven men hanged in Gibeon in recompense for Saul’s guilt in trying to wipe out all Gibeonites (2 Sm 21:1-9).

3. Priest who married the daughter (or descendant) of #1 above and adopted the family name. His descendants returned to Jerusalem in 538 BC with Zerubbabel after the exile. They were refused priestly status because they had lost the genealogies establishing their heritage and priestly descent (Ezr 2:61; Neh 7:63).