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Chimham

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

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HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3643

כִּמְהָם

kim.ham — Chimham

A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.19.37 § Chimham = "their longing" 1) a follower and probably a son of Barzillai the Gileadite who returned from beyond Jordan with David; apparently David bestowed on him a possession in Bethlehem on which in later times an inn was standing 2) apparently the inn in Bethlehem located on the possession given by David to Chimham the follower or son of Barzillai the Gileadite

3 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

Historical dictionary entry

Pining, probably the youngest son of Barzillai the Gileadite (2 Sam. 19:37-40). The “habitation of Chimham” (Jer. 41:17) was probably an inn or khan, which is the proper meaning of the Hebrew geruth, rendered “habitation”, established in later times in his possession at Bethlehem, which David gave to him as a reward for his loyalty in accompanying him to Jerusalem after the defeat of Absalom (1 Kings 2:7). It has been supposed that, considering the stationary character of Eastern institutions, it was in the stable of this inn or caravanserai that our Saviour was born (Luke 2:7).

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Chimham in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →