In the twilight of King David’s reign, following the bitter rebellion of Absalom and the king’s weary return to Jerusalem, we encounter the name of Kimham. He was the son of Barzillai the Gileadite, a man of great age and even greater loyalty who had sustained the king during his exile in Mahanaim. When the king sought to reward the father, the father, in a display of profound humility and “Ancient Paths” wisdom, offered his son in his stead. As it is written: “But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee” (2 Samuel 19:37).
Kimham, rendered as Chimham in the authorized text, represents the transition of legacy from one generation to the next. He entered the royal court not by his own ambition, but as a testimony to his father’s physical obedience and unwavering support for the Lord’s anointed. King David accepted him with a promise of royal favor: “And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee” (2 Samuel 19:38).
The legacy of Kimham is one of lasting impact, stretching far beyond the courts of Jerusalem. It is widely believed by scholars of the “Forensic Analysis” of scripture that the “habitation of Chimham,” mentioned centuries later in the book of Jeremiah, was a piece of land near Bethlehem given to him by David from his own paternal inheritance. This site served as a lodging place for travelers heading toward Egypt: “And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt” (Jeremiah 41:17). In this, Kimham’s name became synonymous with hospitality and a place of refuge.
We look back upon the life of Kimham with an admiring eye, seeing a man who walked in the favor of the King because of the faithfulness of his father. He reminds us that the “Defence of the Truth” often involves standing in the gap for the previous generation and stewarding the blessings that come through their obedience. Kimham did not just live off his father’s reputation; he established a “habitation” that served others for generations to come, proving that a life under the King’s favor is meant to be a source of strength for the weary traveler.