Carmi (son of Zabdi)

Biblical Record

Carmi appears in Joshua 7, where the genealogy of Achan is given. Joshua 7:1 introduces Achan as "the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah." The same genealogy is repeated in Joshua 7:18, when Achan is taken by lot as Israel identifies the offender tribe by tribe, clan by clan, household by household, and man by man. In the genealogy of Zerah's descendants, 1 Chronicles 2:7 calls Carmi's son "Achar" and describes him as "the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed."

Scripture says nothing about Carmi's own life or deeds. He does not appear in the account of Achan's hiding at Jericho the things devoted to God (the spoils set apart for destruction), of Israel's resulting defeat at Ai, or of the punishment of Achan and his children in the Valley of Achor (Joshua 7:24–26). His name appears only where Achan's genealogy is given.

Significance Within Scripture

Carmi's name serves to identify precisely the tribe, clan, and household to which Achan belonged. The casting of lots in Joshua 7 shows how the transgression was traced within the community down to one specific individual, and the names in the genealogy support that process. Neither Carmi nor Achan is mentioned by name in the New Testament.

Interpretations and Issues

• Genealogical discrepancy: Joshua 7:1 records Carmi as the son of Zabdi, but among the sons of Zerah listed in 1 Chronicles 2:6, "Zimri" appears in place of "Zabdi." For this reason, some hold that Zabdi and Zimri are variant forms of the same person's name. Others point out that the text of 1 Chronicles 2 alone does not make clear from which son of Zerah Carmi descended.
• Other persons of the same name: Carmi the son of Reuben (Genesis 46:9; Exodus 6:14; Numbers 26:6; 1 Chronicles 5:3) is a different person from the Carmi of this article. Interpreters are also divided over whether the Carmi listed among the descendants of Judah in 1 Chronicles 4:1 should be identified with this Carmi.
• Meaning of the name: The Hebrew name is commonly interpreted to mean "my vineyard."
• Distinction from later additions: The text says nothing about whether Carmi knew of his son's transgression or whether he was punished; such details cannot be regarded as part of the biblical record. The punishment of Achan's family along with him is discussed, together with Deuteronomy 24:16, as a question of corporate responsibility, but that discussion likewise does not concern any record of Carmi himself.

In the Korean Church

In Korean preaching and Bible study, Joshua 7 is treated mainly with a focus on Achan's covetousness and its effect on the community. Carmi is generally mentioned only by name when Achan's genealogy is read. Some sermons and commentaries compare the Achan narrative with the account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5.