Carmi
“Vine-dresser or noble”
Summary
A name borne by several men in the Old Testament, most notably a son of Reuben and the father of Achan.
☩Son of Reuben
Carmi was the last-named of the four sons of Reuben, Jacob's firstborn son. He went down to Egypt with Jacob's family and became the progenitor of a clan known as the Carmites. His descendants formed one of the families of the tribe of Reuben that was numbered in the census of Israel.
☩Father of Achan
Another Carmi was of the tribe of Judah, a descendant of Zerah through Zabdi (also called Zimri). He was the father of Achan (called Achar in 1 Chronicles), the man who 'troubled Israel' by taking devoted things from Jericho contrary to God's command, bringing defeat upon Israel at Ai. In 1 Chronicles 2:7, Achan is given the name 'Achar' to bring out a Hebrew wordplay: 'Achar, the troubler of Israel.'
Related Verses8 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Carmi," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Carmi," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.James Orr (ed.), "Carmi," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).