Geruth Chimham
Geruth Chimham is a region mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Bethlehem. It appears across 1 verse in Scripture.
Biblical History
Geruth Chimham appears only once in the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 41:17, during one of the most turbulent periods in Judah's history. Following the assassination of Gedaliah, the governor appointed by Babylon over the remnant population of Judah, a group of frightened survivors gathered at Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem. Led by Johanan son of Kareah, they paused there on their journey toward Egypt, fearing Babylonian reprisal for Gedaliah's murder. The name Chimham likely connects this location to Chimham, the son of Barzillai the Gileadite, who had shown great kindness to David during his flight from Absalom (2 Samuel 19:37–38). David reportedly gave Chimham a grant of land near Bethlehem as a reward for his father's loyalty. Thus Geruth Chimham — meaning roughly 'the lodging place of Chimham' — represents a piece of royal generosity remembered across generations. The site served as a way-station on the road south from Jerusalem, its brief biblical appearance capturing a moment of profound national crisis and the sorrow of impending exile from the Promised Land.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
Geruth Chimham has not been definitively identified through archaeological excavation. The site is presumed to lie near Bethlehem, consistent with its connection to Chimham's land grant from David, but no specific tel or ruin has been positively matched to the name. The broader Bethlehem region has yielded Iron Age and Persian-period remains consistent with the era of Jeremiah, but the singular mention of Geruth Chimham in Scripture provides insufficient geographical data for precise identification. Scholars treat it as a private estate or caravanserai that left no distinct archaeological footprint, its memory preserved only through the biblical text.
Verse Appearances (1)
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Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →