Chimham

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

 2 Samuel 19:34;  2 Samuel 19:37-40. Taken by David to court, instead of Barzillai the Gileadite, his father, to whom the king owed a debt of gratitude for help in his flight from Absalom. In  Jeremiah 41:17, ages after, the Jewish refugees from the Babylonians "dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt." David's patrimony was at Bethlehem; and this incidental notice leads to the inference that, having undertaken to provide for Chimham, he conferred on him his personal patrimony, subject to the reversion to David's heirs at the year of Jubilee; hence it was called "the habitation of Chimham."

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Chimham ( Kĭ M'Hăm ), Longing. A follower, and probably a son, of Barzillai the Gileadite, who returned from beyond Jordan with David.  2 Samuel 19:37-38;  2 Samuel 19:40 (b.c. 1023). David appears to have bestowed on him a possession at Bethlehem, on which, in later times, an inn or khan was standing.  Jeremiah 41:17.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Chim'ham. (Longing). A follower and, probably, a son, of Barzillai, the Gileadite, who returned from beyond Jordan with David.  2 Samuel 19:37-38;  2 Samuel 19:40. (B C 1023). David appears to have bestowed on him a possession at Bethlehem, on which, in later times, an inn or khan was standing.  Jeremiah 41:17.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

A man of Gilead, probably the son of Barzillai (cf.  1 Kings 2:7 ), who commended him to David on his return to Jerusalem, after the death of Absalom.  2 Samuel 19:37,38,40 (in ver. 40 the Hebrew reads Chimhan , as in the margin);  Jeremiah 41:17 .

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

CHIMHAM . Probably the son (cf.   1 Kings 2:7 ) of Barzillai the Gileadite, who returned with David from beyond Jordan to Jerusalem after the death of Absalom (  2 Samuel 19:31 f.). See, further, Geruth-chimham.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Probably a son a Barzillai,  2 Samuel 19:36;  1 Kings 2:7 . He may have received from David the place near Bethlehem called Chimham,  Jeremiah 41:17 .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 2 Samuel 19:37-40 Jeremiah 41:17 Geruth   1 Kings 2:7 Luke 2:7

Holman Bible Dictionary

 2 Samuel 19:37 Jeremiah 41:17

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Hebrews Kimham ´ , כַּמְהָם , Pining; Sept. Χιμαάμ v. r. Χαμαάμ ) , a follower, and probably a son (Joseph. Ἀχίμανος , Ant. 7:11, 4; and comp.  1 Kings 2:7) of Barzillai the Gileadite, who returned in his stead from beyond Jordan with David on his restoration after Absalom's rebellion ( 2 Samuel 19:37-38;  2 Samuel 19:40, which last verse gives the name as כַּמְהָן , Kimhan ´ ). B.C. 1023. David appears to have bestowed on him, as a reward for his loyalty, a possession at Bethlehem, on which, in later times, an inn or khan ( גֵּרוּה ), called after him (Sept. Γηβηρωθχαμάαμ ; Vulg. Peregrinantes In Chamaam; A. V. "habitation of Chimham;" the text has the name כַּמְוֹהָם , i.e. כְּמוּהם , Kemuham ´ ; Sept. v. r. Γαβαηρωχάμα , Γῇ Βαρὼθ Χαμάαμ , etc.), was standing, well known as the starting-point for travelers from Jerusalem to Egypt ( Jeremiah 41:17). Blunt notices in this mention of the dwelling of Chimham at Bethlehem an indication of the actual munificence of David to the family of Barzillai, for which we are prepared by the narrative in Samuel and Kings (Undesigned Coincidences, 6th ed. p. 150). (See Inn).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kim´ham ( כּמהם , kimhām ( 2 Samuel 19:37 ,  2 Samuel 19:38 ) or כּמהן , kimhān ( 2 Samuel 19:40 ) or כּמוהם , kemōhem ( Jeremiah 41:17 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 (  2 Samuel 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" ( Jeremiah 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 ( אחינעם , 'ăḥı̄nō‛am ).