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Descendants of Simeon

24 The sons of Simeon were Jemuel,[a] Jamin, Jarib, Zohar,[b] and Shaul.

25 The descendants of Shaul were Shallum, Mibsam, and Mishma.

26 The descendants of Mishma were Hammuel, Zaccur, and Shimei.

27 Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but none of his brothers had large families. So Simeon’s tribe never grew as large as the tribe of Judah.

28 They lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, 29 Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, 30 Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, 31 Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These towns were under their control until the time of King David. 32 Their descendants also lived in Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Token, and Ashan—five towns 33 and their surrounding villages as far away as Baalath.[c] This was their territory, and these names are listed in their genealogical records.

34 Other descendants of Simeon included Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah, 35 Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah, son of Seraiah, son of Asiel, 36 Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, 37 and Ziza son of Shiphi, son of Allon, son of Jedaiah, son of Shimri, son of Shemaiah.

38 These were the names of some of the leaders of Simeon’s wealthy clans. Their families grew, 39 and they traveled to the region of Gerar,[d] in the east part of the valley, seeking pastureland for their flocks. 40 They found lush pastures there, and the land was spacious, quiet, and peaceful.

Some of Ham’s descendants had been living in that region. 41 But during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah, these leaders of Simeon invaded the region and completely destroyed[e] the homes of the descendants of Ham and of the Meunites. No trace of them remains today. They killed everyone who lived there and took the land for themselves, because they wanted its good pastureland for their flocks. 42 Five hundred of these invaders from the tribe of Simeon went to Mount Seir, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel—all sons of Ishi. 43 They destroyed the few Amalekites who had survived, and they have lived there ever since.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:24a As in Syriac version (see also Gen 46:10; Exod 6:15); Hebrew reads Nemuel.
  2. 4:24b As in parallel texts at Gen 46:10 and Exod 6:15; Hebrew reads Zerah.
  3. 4:33 As in some Greek manuscripts (see also Josh 19:8); Hebrew reads Baal.
  4. 4:39 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads Gedor.
  5. 4:41 The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the Lord, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

Simeon’s line

24 Simeon’s family: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul, 25 his son Shallum, his son Mibsam, and his son Mishma. 26 Mishma’s family: his son Hammuel, his son Zaccur, and his son Shimei. 27 Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers didn’t have many children, and none of their clans became as numerous as the Judeans.

28 They lived in Beer-sheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, 29 Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, 30 Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, 31 Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their towns until David became king. 32 Their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan—five towns— 33 as well as all their villages around these towns as far as Baal. These were their settlements, and they kept their own family records:

34 Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah, 35 Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah son of Seraiah son of Asiel, 36 Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, 37 and Ziza son of Shiphi son of Allon son of Jedaiah son of Shimri son of Shemaiah. 38 These mentioned by name were leaders in their clans, and their households increased greatly.

39 They went to the entrance of Gedor, as far as the east side of the valley, to find pasture for their flocks. 40 They found fertile pasture, and the land was spacious, quiet, and peaceful; the people of Ham used to live there. 41 These whose names were recorded, however, came in the days of Judah’s King Hezekiah, attacked their tents and the Meunim[a] found there, and completely destroyed them, as can be seen today. They settled in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks. 42 Some of them, five hundred Simeonites, went to Mount Seir, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, Ishi’s sons. 43 They struck down those who were left of the Amalekites and have lived there ever since.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 4:41 Qere; Kethib Meinim