Chimham כִּמְהָם
Barzillai's son, accompanied David to Jerusalem
Biography
Chimham was the son of Barzillai the Gileadite, who was a wealthy man from Rogelim. During Absalom's rebellion against King David, Barzillai provided support for David and his followers when they fled from Jerusalem (2Sa.17.27-29). After Absalom's defeat, when David returned to Jerusalem, Barzillai accompanied him to the Jordan River. Due to his advanced age, Barzillai declined David's invitation to come with him to Jerusalem. Instead, he sent his son Chimham to go with the king (2Sa.19.37-38). David showed kindness to Chimham and promised to do for him whatever Barzillai requested (2Sa.19.38). Chimham then went on with David to Jerusalem (2Sa.19.40). This act of loyalty and the king's favor suggests that Chimham held a special place in David's court.
In Scripture
1 biblical book2 Samuel 3 verses
- 2 Samuel 19:37
"Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to you.”"
- 2 Samuel 19:38
"The king answered, “Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good to you. Whatever you request of me, that I will do for you.”"
- 2 Samuel 19:40
"So the king went over to Gilgal, and Chimham went over with him. All the people of Judah brought the king over, and also half the people of Israel."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | כִּמְהָם | H3643 |
Chimham
:17 Kt.); this reading, however, may probably be safely ignored): One of the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, who supported David while the latter was in exile in Mahanaim (2Sa 19:37). After the death of Absalom, Barzillai was invited to spend the remainder of his life with the king; but he refused, and sent his son Chimham in his stead. From the mention of "the habitation of Chimham, which is by Beth-lehem" (Jer 41:17 the King James Version), it has been inferred that Chimham received a grant of land from David's patrimony at Bethlehem, which retained his name for at least four centuries. It has been suggested that his name was probably Ahinoam ('achino`am).
Horace J. Wolf
See HOUSE;
kin'-e-reth, kin'-e-roth (kinnereth (De 3:17; J