Tribe of Simeon

The Tribe of Simeon was one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Its inheritance was within the Tribe of Judah's, since Judah's inheritance was too large for the tribe. During the numbering of the tribes, Simeon numbered 59,300 men of war. Later, the two tribes assimilated and lived as one.

Inheritance
The Tribe of Simeon was given inheritance inside of the inheritance of Judah. These cities were also the inheritance of Judah. The cities, as well as their villages, were given to Simeon.


 * Beersheba
 * This was most likely the main city of the tribe.
 * Moladah
 * Hazarshual
 * Balah
 * Azem
 * Eltolad
 * Bethul
 * Hormah
 * Ziklag
 * Bethmarcaboth
 * Hazarsusah
 * Bethlebaoth
 * Sharuhen
 * Ain
 * Remmon
 * Ether
 * Ashan
 * Baalathbeer
 * Also known as Ramath of the south.

History
Simeon was the second son of Jacob and Leah, the father of Israel. His progeny formed a distinct tribe within the nation of Israel. His tribe numbered 59,300 able-bodied men in Numbers, After the scandal of Zimri, the population fell by about 24,000. His tribe was one of the less significant tribes, as it is only mentioned when the collective tribes go to war. Despite being ranked among the ten tribes that formed the Northern Kingdom of Israel, it was wholly inside of Judah and thus was not a part of the kingdom. It was a part of the Kingdom of Judah instead.

When Hezekiah reigned as King of Judah, the princes of Simeon came and destroyed the Amalekites at Gedor. 500 men of the tribe followed and destroyed the Amalekites that had escaped to Mount Seir, and lived there. It was brought into captivity when the city of Jerusalem fell in 587 BC. It is rarely mentioned as a separate tribe, and Judah is almost always mentioned in the same verse. However, it is promised a gate in the New Jerusalem.

Genealogy
1 Chronicles 4:24-43 mentions the genealogy of Simeon. Simeon, as the father of the tribe, had 6 sons; Jemuel (or Nemuel), Jamin, Ohad, Jachin (or Jarib), Zerah (or Zohar), and Shaul. Ohad is omitted from 1 Chronicles. It is believed that Shallum was the son of Shaul, and thus the line is as follows: Shallum fathered Mibsam, who fathered Mishma, who fathered Hamuel, who fathered Zacchur, who fathered Shimei. Shimei had a very large family, but his brothers were not so fruitful. Shimei thus is seen as continuing the line of Simeon due to his large family. Other progeny of Simeon mentioned in the passage are listed below:


 * Meshobab
 * Jamlech
 * Joshah the son of Amaziah
 * Joel
 * Jehu the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel
 * Elioenai
 * Jaakobah
 * Jeshohaiah
 * Asaiah
 * Adliel
 * Jesimiel
 * Benaniah
 * Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah.
 * The above names were princes in their tribe and produced a large progeny.
 * Salu
 * Zimri
 * The captains of the 500 that conquered Mount Seir were Peletiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, all sons of Ishi.