ירמיהו, פרק מ״א, פסוק י״ז

Gathering the people together, the group embarks on a journey southward with a clear destination in mind: the land of Egypt. As they travel, they pause to make camp near Bethlehem at a specific location known as the dwelling of Kimham.

This site functioned as an established residence or estate [מצודת ציון]. There is a general consensus among commentators that the area was named after Kimham, the son of Barzillai the Gileadite, who historically returned with King David following the end of Absalom's rebellion. The exact reason the property bears his name is understood in two complementary ways. One perspective suggests that Kimham personally built the settlement and established his home there [רד״ק]. Another approach, drawing from ancient Aramaic tradition, explains that this tract of land was an estate granted to Kimham by King David as a reward [רש״י, רד״ק].

The decision to halt at this specific property is directly tied to the group's ultimate goal of reaching Egypt. The site near Bethlehem sat directly along the main highway leading south [מצודת דוד]. Consequently, they use this location as a practical transit station, resting before continuing their planned descent into Egyptian territory [ביאור שטיינזלץ].