CHAMAAM (Heb. Kimhâm, Septuagint Χαμάρι). — BARZILLAI (v.) of Gilead (II Sam. 19:37–40; I Reg. 2:7). After the defeat of Absalom, he followed David to Jerusalem. In consideration of the services rendered to him by his father, David received him kindly, showered him with gifts, and commended him to Solomon.
Another C. (Heb. Kémôhâm, Septuagint Γαβηρωχάλα, with many variants) occurs in Ier. 41:17 (Septuagint 48:17), a locality, according to the Vulgate, near Bethlehem, where the Jews resolved to emigrate to Egypt after the assassination of Godolias halted. But it could be a personal name, if, following many manuscripts, one reads Kimhâm instead of the Masoretic Kémôhâm; in that case, the son of Berzellai mentioned above would be intended. Giorgio Castellino