Simeon^(A)

²⁷ Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his brothers did not have many children; so their entire clan did not become as numerous as the people of Judah. ²⁸ They lived in Beersheba,^(D) Moladah,^(E) Hazar Shual, ²⁹ Bilhah, Ezem,^(F) Tolad, ³⁰ Bethuel, Hormah,^(G) Ziklag,^{(H) 31} Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri and Shaaraim.^(I) These were their towns until the reign of David. ³² Their surrounding villages were Etam, Ain,^(J) Rimmon, Token and Ashan^(K)—five towns— ³³ and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath.^[a] These were their settlements. And they kept a genealogical record.

³⁸ The men listed above by name were leaders of their clans. Their families increased greatly, ³⁹ and they went to the outskirts of Gedor^(L) to the east of the valley in search of pasture for their flocks. ⁴⁰ They found rich, good pasture, and the land was spacious, peaceful and quiet.^(M) Some Hamites had lived there formerly.

⁴¹ The men whose names were listed came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. They attacked the Hamites in their dwellings and also the Meunites^(N) who were there and completely destroyed^[b] them, as is evident to this day. Then they settled in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks. ⁴² And five hundred of these Simeonites, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, invaded the hill country of Seir.^{(O) 43} They killed the remaining Amalekites^(P) who had escaped, and they have lived there to this day.