This document is about Barzillai (Man of Gilead). For other homonyms, please refer to the Barzillai document.
A man from Gilead who helped David when David fled during Absalom's rebellion.
2 Sam 17:27When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Roglim2 Sam 17:28brought beds and basins and earthen vessels and wheat and barley and flour and roasted grain and beans and lentils and roasted seeds,2 Sam 17:29and honey and curds and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and for the people with him, for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”
When David suppressed the rebellion and returned, Barzillai sent his son Chimham to David.
When David was dying, he instructed Solomon to continue to show kindness to Barzillai's sons.
1 Kings 2:7But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for they came to me when I fled from your brother Absalom.
Later, a man who married Barzillai's daughter took his father-in-law's name, Barzillai, but his descendants were excluded from the priesthood because their ancestry could not be proven.