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?
My Notes
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Gill's Exposition
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…
Adam Clarke
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…
David had already graced the triumphs of his restoration with the generous remission of the injuries that had been done to him; we have him here gracing them with a no less generous reward of the…
Cambridge Bible
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.
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture