Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 19:35
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?
35. fourscore years ] Cp. Psa 90:10.
singing men and singing women ] Musicians were a part of royal state (Ecc 2:8); banquets were commonly enlivened by music. See Isa 5:11-12; Isa 24:8-9; Amo 6:4-6.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 35. Can thy servant taste what I eat] Here is at once an affecting description of the infirmities of old age; and a correct account of the mode of living at an Eastern court in ancient times.
Barzillai was fourscore years old; his ear was become dull of hearing, and his relish for his food was gone: he therefore appears to have been not only an old man, but an infirm old man. Besides delicate meats and drinks, we find that vocal music constituted a principal part of court entertainments: male and female singers made a necessary appendage to these banquets, as they do in most Eastern courts to the present day. As David was a most sublime poet, and emphatically styled the sweet singer of Israel, he no doubt had his court well supplied with vocal as well as instrumental performers; and, probably, with poets and poetesses; for it is not likely that he was the only poet of his time, though he undoubtedly was the most excellent.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
My senses are grown dull, and uncapable of relishing the delights of the court. I am past taking pleasure in delicious tastes, or sweet music, and other such delights of the court. I am through age both useless and burdensome to others, and therefore most improper for a court life.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
35. the voice of singing men andsinging womenBands of professional musicians form a prominentappendage to the courts of Oriental princes.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I [am] this day fourscore years old,…. Not that that day was precisely his birthday, but that he was about such an age, very little under or over; very probably he was full that age:
[and] can I discern between good and evil? signifying, either that his intellectual powers were impaired, and could not distinguish what was right and wrong, and so could be of no service to David in his privy council, or any court of judicature, he was fit for no post or office under him; or that his natural senses were not quick to distinguish between good and bad, particularly between good and bad food, which he could neither discern by smell nor taste, as follows:
can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? have any gust or relish of, or take any delight or pleasure in eating and drinking; so that the most delicious food, and richest wines, and all the dainties of a king’s table, would signify nothing to him:
can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? either being so deaf that he could not hear them at all, or however not with any delight; the evil days being come upon him, in which he could take no pleasure in the diversions of a court:
wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? he could neither take any pleasure himself, nor be of any service to the king, but on the contrary a burden to him; not only on account of his sustenance, and being obliged to have servants to attend him, which might be the least part of his burden, but his company would be disagreeable and troublesome, through the infirmities of old age upon him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
35. Can I discern between good and evil Is it to be supposed that at my time of life I still retain unimpaired the powers of judgment and discrimination which belong to the age of healthfulness and vigour? Good and evil are to be understood here of the pleasures and entertainments of court life, as the following specifications show.
Can thy servant taste what I eat Thy servant is a periphrastic expression for I, as is 2Sa 19:26, and frequently elsewhere. It is a form of expression used out of respect to royalty, and is equivalent to Can I taste what I eat, etc. His senses of taste and hearing had become so impaired that delicate meats and drinks, and vocal or instrumental music, with all which he would be constantly entertained at the royal court, would not be appreciated by him.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Sa 19:35 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?
Ver. 35. Can I discern between good and evil? ] Am I fit for courtly pleasures? It is past time of day with me for such matters. See Ecc 12:2-4 . See Trapp on “ Ecc 12:2 “ See Trapp on “ Ecc 12:3 “ See Trapp on “ Ecc 12:4 “
Can I hear any more the voice?
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
can . . . ? . . . can . . . ? Figure of speech Anaphora. App-6.
evil. Hebrew. ra’a’. App-44.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
can I discern: Job 6:30, Job 12:11, Heb 5:14, 1Pe 2:3
taste: Ecc 12:1-5
I hear: Ezr 2:65, Neh 7:67, Exo 2:8, Exo 12:4
a burden: 2Sa 13:25, 2Sa 15:33
Reciprocal: Psa 71:9 – when Psa 90:10 – yet Ecc 2:8 – men singers Ecc 12:4 – all Luk 7:25 – are in
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
19:35 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 {p} burden unto my lord the king?
(p) He thought it was not fitting to receive benefits from him to whom he was not able to do service again.