978. Bacharumi

Lexical Summary

Bacharumi: "Chosen ones" or "select ones"

Original Word: בּחֲרוּמִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: Bacharuwmiy
Pronunciation: bah-khah-ROO-mee
Phonetic Spelling: (bakh-ar-oo-mee')
KJV: Baharumite
NASB: Baharumite, Barhumite
Word Origin: [patrial from H980 (בַּחוּרִים בַּחוּרִים - Bahurim) (by transposition)]

1. a Bacharumite or inhabitant of Bachurim

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Baharumite

Patrial from Bachuriym (by transposition); a Bacharumite or inhabitant of Bachurim -- Baharumite.

see HEBREW Bachuriym

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
probably from Bachurim
Definition
inhab. of Bacharum
NASB Translation
Baharumite (1), Barhumite (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

בַּחֲרוּמִי adjective, of a people Baharumite 1 Chronicles 11:33 = בַּרְחֻמִי 2 Samuel 23:31. Probably בַּחֻרִמִי Dr.

בַרְחֻמִי 2 Samuel 23:31 = בַּחֲרוּמִי 1 Chronicles 11:33, read probably בַּחֻרִמִי see below בחר & compare Dr.

Topical Lexicon

Entry

Name: Baharumite (Strong’s Hebrew 978, בַּחֲרוּמִי)

Related Place: Bahurim, a village in the tribal allotment of Benjamin, situated east of Jerusalem on the road to the Jordan Valley.

Biblical context

The one explicit occurrence of the term “Baharumite” is in the roster of David’s elite warriors: “Azmaveth the Baharumite” (1 Chronicles 11:33). The parallel list records him as “Azmaveth the Barhumite” (2 Samuel 23:31). In both texts the designation identifies a native of Bahurim rather than supplying additional personal detail about the man. The verse’s inclusion in the catalogue of the “mighty men” (gibborim) places the Baharumite within the circle of battle-hardened champions whose exploits secured David’s kingdom.

Historical setting of Bahurim

1. Tribal background. Bahurim lay in Benjamin (Joshua 18:28), the very tribe of Saul. Its inhabitants therefore shared lineage with the house that initially opposed David’s ascent. Yet Scripture notes at least one Benjamite—Azmaveth—who aligned himself with the son of Jesse.
2. Geographic importance. The village stood on the eastern approach to Jerusalem. David traversed this route while fleeing from Absalom (2 Samuel 15:30–16:14). The topography provided a vantage point overlooking the Kidron Valley and the wilderness roadway to the Jordan fordings.
3. Episodes of note.
• Shimei son of Gera publicly cursed the king at Bahurim (2 Samuel 16:5–8).
• Jonathan and Ahimaaz concealed themselves at Bahurim’s well when relaying intelligence to David (2 Samuel 17:18–21).
• Paltiel wept at Bahurim when his wife Michal was reclaimed for David (2 Samuel 3:16).

Theological significance

1. Covenant loyalty over tribal rivalry. The presence of a Baharumite among David’s heroes testifies to David’s unifying leadership under the covenant promises. Allegiance to the anointed king transcended inherited loyalties, prefiguring the gathering of diverse peoples under the Messiah (Acts 15:16–18).
2. Grace amid hostility. Bahurim witnessed both cursing (Shimei) and blessing (Azmaveth). The contrast underscores the biblical principle that individuals are judged not by birthplace but by their response to the Lord’s chosen king (Matthew 12:30).
3. Foreshadowing the passion journey. David’s departure over the Mount of Olives and through Bahurim anticipates Jesus Christ’s own path of rejection and vindication (Luke 22:39; Acts 1:12). The village’s geography thus becomes part of salvation history’s pattern of exile and restoration.

Application for ministry

• Encourage believers to emulate Azmaveth’s courage: siding with God’s anointed even when local or cultural identity might suggest otherwise.
• Highlight the transforming power of allegiance to Christ, which forges unity from former hostilities (Ephesians 2:14–16).
• Use Bahurim’s dual witness—Shimei’s hostility and Azmaveth’s loyalty—to challenge congregations on the necessity of wholehearted commitment.

Related Scriptures

Samuel’s record of the mighty men: 2 Samuel 23:8–39.

David’s flight and Shimei’s encounter: 2 Samuel 15:30–16:14.

Secret courier mission: 2 Samuel 17:15–22.

Paltiel’s separation: 2 Samuel 3:14–16.

Tribal boundaries: Joshua 18:28.

Forms and Transliterations

הַבַּ֣חֲרוּמִ֔י הבחרומי hab·ba·ḥă·rū·mî habBacharuMi habbaḥărūmî

Englishman's Concordance

1 Chronicles 11:33
HEB: עַזְמָ֙וֶת֙ הַבַּ֣חֲרוּמִ֔י אֶלְיַחְבָּ֖א הַשַּׁעַלְבֹנִֽי׃
NAS: Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba
KJV: Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba
INT: Azmaveth the Baharumite Eliahba the Shaalbonite

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 978
1 Occurrence

hab·ba·ḥă·rū·mî — 1 Occ.