Bible Encyclopedias
Carmi

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kar´mı̄ ( כּרמי , karmı̄ , "fruitful," "noble"):

(1) A son of Reuben who came to Egypt with Jacob (Genesis 46:9; Exodus 6:14; 1 Chronicles 5:3 ). Also the name of a family of which Carmi was the head (Numbers 26:6 ).

(2) A J udahite (1 Chronicles 2:7 ), son of Zabdi, according to Joshua 7:1 , and father of Achan, who is given the name of "Achar" in 1 Chronicles 2:7 . This last form "Achar" is preferred to the usual "Achan" in order to bring out the play on the Hebrew word for "troubler." The Hebrew runs עכר עוכר ישׂראל , ‛ākhār ‛ōkhēr yisrā'ēl , "Achar, the troubler of Israel." As regards the phrase "the sons of Carmi" (1 Chronicles 2:7 ), Carmi is probably to be taken as the son of Zimri (= Zabdi, Joshua 7:1 ). The Targum, however, has "Carmi who is Zimri." The Septuagint identifies Zimri and Zabdi.

(3) In 1 Chronicles 4:1 , Carmi, elsewhere called son of Zabdi or Zimri, is made son of Judah; but Wellhausen correctly changes "Carmi" to "Chelubai" (compare 1 Chronicles 2:9 ).