The Name in Two Crucial Genealogies
The name Carmi (meaning “my vineyard” or “vine-dresser”) appears in two important contexts in the Old Testament, both linked to the descendants of Jacob (Israel). Understanding these two distinct men named Carmi helps clarify the structural organization of the tribes and the critical role of one family in a national crisis.
1. Carmi, the Son of Reuben (The Patriarch)
The first, and less controversial, Carmi is one of the four sons of Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn son. This Carmi is a patriarch of one of the major families within the tribe of Reuben.
His mention appears in the lists detailing the families who descended into Egypt with Jacob and who later formed the basis of the tribe’s registration:
“And the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were, Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.” (Exodus 6:14, KJV)
“The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, and the family of the Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the Palluites: Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family of the Carmites. These are the families of the Reubenites.” (Numbers 26:5-6, KJV)
This Carmi is important for establishing the integrity of the tribal structure and ensuring the continuity of the original twelve tribes of Israel.
2. Carmi, the Ancestor of Achan (The Apostate’s Line)
The second and most notorious mention of Carmi is as the grandfather of Achan (or Achar), the man whose sin brought divine judgment upon the entire nation of Israel during the conquest of Canaan.
Here, Carmi is placed in the genealogy of the tribe of Judah, through the line of Zerah:
“Of the children of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all. And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed.” (1 Chronicles 2:6-7, KJV, Note: The Carmi here is listed as the father of Achan/Achar, establishing the lineage.)
The primary account is found in the Book of Joshua, detailing Achan’s crime:
“But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.” (Joshua 7:1, KJV)
The Spiritual Lesson: The Sin of Achan and the Cost of Apostasy
The second Carmi, though not an apostate himself, is forever linked to Achan, whose transgression stands as a stark biblical example of covetousness and apostasy causing immediate corporate judgment.
The crime occurred after the miraculous fall of Jericho. God commanded that all the spoils (the “accursed thing”) be dedicated to the Lord and not taken by any man. Achan, driven by greed, secretly took and hid silver, gold, and a valuable garment.
- The Corporate Consequence: Because of Achan’s secret sin, God withdrew His protection, and the Israelites were defeated at Ai.
- The Unmasking of the Lie: Achan was only discovered after God revealed the sin. His punishment—along with his family—was necessary to purge the apostasy (the lie against the holy command) from the camp and restore God’s favor.
The inclusion of Carmi’s name in this tragic genealogy serves as a perpetual warning: The integrity of the covenant community depends on the faithfulness of its individual members. A single act of hidden apostasy (covetousness and disobedience) can bring devastating judgment upon the whole body.