1 Chronicles 4:24-43

New International Reader's Version

The Family Line of Simeon

²⁷ Shimei had 16 sons and six daughters. But his brothers didn’t have many children. So their whole family group didn’t have as many people as Judah had. ²⁸ Shimei’s family group lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar Shual, ²⁹ Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, ³⁰ Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, ³¹ Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri and Shaaraim. These were their towns until David became king. ³² Five of the villages around these towns were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Token and Ashan. ³³ The territory of all the villages around these towns reached all the way to Baalath. These were their settlements.

The tribe of Simeon kept its own family history.

³⁸ The men whose names are listed above were leaders of their family groups.

Their families greatly increased their numbers. ³⁹ They spread out all the way to the edge of Gedor east of the valley. They looked for grasslands for their flocks. ⁴⁰ They found grasslands that were rich and good. The land had plenty of room. It was peaceful and quiet. Some of the people of Ham had lived there before.

⁴¹ The men whose names are listed lived at the time when Hezekiah was king of Judah. They came and attacked the Hamites in their homes. They also attacked the Meunites who were there. And they completely destroyed them. What happened to them is clear even to this day. The men of Simeon made their homes where the Meunites had lived. That’s because in that place there were enough grasslands for their flocks. ⁴² Five hundred of these men came into the hill country of Seir and attacked it. They were led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah and Uzziel. These four men were the sons of Ishi. ⁴³ They killed the rest of the Amalekites who had escaped. And they still live there to this day.