CHIMHAM kĭm’ hăm, כִּמְהָ֔ם (2 Sam 19:37, 38; Heb vv. 38, 39), כִּמְהָ֖ן (2 Sam 19:40; Heb v. 41), כְּמﯴהֶם (Jer 41:17, Kethibh); LXX Χαμαάμ (2 Sam 19:37 [38], 38 [39], 40 [41]) (Γαβηρω) Χομάα (Jer 41:17); Vul. Chamaam; Luther Chimham. כִּמְהָ֔ם means longing, pining; or (if related to Arab. kamiha) perhaps of a livid countenance or blind. Presumably Chimham was a son (Jos. Antiq. VII. 11. 4) of Barzillai the Gileadite.

While David was in exile at Mahanaim, Barzillai provided him with food. After the rebellion had been quelled David invited Barzillai to be his guest at Jerusalem. Barzillai declined but sent Chimham instead. Apparently David granted Chimham a royal pension (1 Kings 2:7)—maybe even a piece of land near Bethlehem (Jer 41:17), because four centuries later Johanan ben Kareah and his band encamped at גֵּר֣וּת֙ כְמﯴהֶם “the lodging (-place) of Chimham” (“Chimham’s Inn,” Am. Trans.; “the sheepfolds of Kimham,” Moffat).