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

pining, probably the youngest son of Barzillai the Gileadite (2Sa 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 (1Ki 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 (Lu 2:7).

2Sa 19:34,37-40. 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 Jer 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."

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

Chim'ham

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

Chim'ham

(longing), a follower and probably a son, of Barzillai the Gileadite, who returned from beyond Jordan with David.

2Sa 19:37-38,40

(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.

Jer 41:17