I Chronicles 4:24-33 · Bible study
1 Chronicles 4:24-33 Commentary: Simeon's Line and Land
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does this genealogy differ from Genesis? See how Simeon's line and cities were recorded, and what it means for God's people.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Simeon's genealogy and settlements show God's continued care for a smaller tribe.
- Key words: יָשַׁב (yashav, to dwell), הִתְיַחְשָׂם (hit'yachsham, kept genealogy, H3187 Hithpael), עַד (ad, until).
- Main debate: Differences from Genesis 46 due to multiple names and Ohad's childlessness.
- Theological theme: God's covenant faithfulness to all tribes, not just the prominent ones.
- Best use: Teaching about identity, remembrance, and hope for overlooked communities.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
24The descendants of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul.
25The sons of Shaul: Shallum, Mibsam, and Mishma.
26The sons of Mishma: Hammuel, Zaccur, and Shimei.
27Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his brothers did not have many children, so their whole clan did not become as numerous as the sons of Judah.
28They lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual,
29Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,
30Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag,
31Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until the reign of David.
32And their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan—five towns—
33and all their surrounding villages as far as Baal. These were their settlements, and they kept a genealogical record:
WEB World English Bible 2000
24The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul;
25Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, and Mishma his son.
26The sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son.
27Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers didn’t have many children, and all their family didn’t multiply like the children of Judah.
28They lived at Beersheba, Moladah, Hazarshual,
29at Bilhah, at Ezem, at Tolad,
30at Bethuel, at Hormah, at Ziklag,
31at Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susim, at Beth Biri, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities until David’s reign.
32Their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, five cities;
33and all their villages that were around the same cities, as far as Baal. These were their settlements, and they kept their genealogy.
KJV King James Version 1769
24The sons of Simeon were, Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul:
25Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.
26And the sons of Mishma; Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, Shimei his son.
27And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brethren had not many children, neither did all their family multiply, like to the children of Judah.
28And they dwelt at Beer–sheba, and Moladah, and Hazar–shual,
29And at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,
30And at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,
31And at Beth–marcaboth, and Hazar–susim, and at Beth–birei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities unto the reign of David.
32And their villages were, Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities:
33And all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal. These were their habitations, and their genealogy.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
24The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul;
25Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.
26And the sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son.
27And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brethren had not many children, neither did all their family multiply like to the children of Judah.
28And they dwelt at Beer-sheba, and Moladah, and Hazar-shual,
29and at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,
30and at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,
31and at Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susim, and at Beth-biri, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities unto the reign of David.
32And their villages were Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities;
33and all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal. These were their habitations, and they have their genealogy.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
24Sons of Simeon: Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul;
25Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.
26And sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zacchur his son, Shimei his son.
27And to Shimei are sixteen sons and six daughters, and to his brethren there are not many sons, and none of their families have multiplied as much as the sons of Judah.
28And they dwell in Beer-Sheba, and Moladah, and Hazar-Shaul,
29and in Bilhah, and in Ezem, and in Tolad,
30and in Bethuel, and in Hormah, and in Ziklag,
31and in Beth-Marcaboth, and in Hazar-Susim, and in Beth-Birei, and in Shaarim; these are their cities till the reigning of David.
32And their villages are Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities,
33and all their villages that are round about these cities unto Baal; these are their dwellings, and they have their genealogy:
Darby Darby Bible 1890
24The sons of Simeon: Nemuel and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, [and] Saul;
25Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.
26And the sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son;
27and Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters. And his brethren had not many sons; neither did all their family multiply like to the sons of Judah.
28And they abode at Beer-sheba, and Moladah, and Hazar-Shual,
29and at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,
30and at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,
31and at Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susim, and at Beth-biri, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities until the reign of David.
32And their villages were Etam and Ain, Rimmon and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities;
33and all their villages that were round about these cities, as far as Baal. These were their habitations and their genealogical register.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
24The sons of Simeon: Namuel and Jamin, Jarib, Zara, Saul:
25Sellum his son, Mapsam his son, Masma his son.
26The sons of Masma: Hamuel his son, Zachur his son, Semei his son.
27The sons of Semei were sixteen, and six daughters: but his brethren had not many sons, and the whole kindred could not reach to the sum of the children of Juda.
28And they dwelt in Bersabee, and Molada, and Hasarsuhal,
29And in Bala, and in Asom, and in Tholad,
30And in Bathuel, and in Horma, and in Siceleg,
31And in Bethmarchaboth, and in Hasarsusim, and in Bethberai, and in Saarim. These were their cities unto the reign of David.
32Their towns also were Etam, and Aen, Remmon, and Thochen, and Asan, five cities.
33And all their villages round about these cities as far as Baal. This was their habitation, and the distribution of their dwellings.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Chronicles 4:24
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that 1 Chronicles 4:24-33 provides a selective genealogy of Simeon focused on the line of Shaul (Clarke, Gill). The list of five sons differs from Genesis 46:10 and Exodus 6:15, where six sons appear including Ohad. Keil and Delitzsch note that Ohad is omitted because he left no known descendants, as also reflected in Numbers 26:12-13. Name variations (Nemuel for Jemuel, Jarib for Jachin, Zerah for Zohar) are attributed to individuals bearing multiple names (Barnes, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). The tribe's small size compared to Judah is highlighted in verse 27, consistent with census numbers in Numbers 1 and 26. The cities listed correspond to Joshua 19:1-9. The phrase 'until the reign of David' signals that some cities, such as Ziklag, were later transferred to Judah (1 Samuel 27:6). The concluding note, 'they kept their genealogy', shows the Chronicler's interest in preserving tribal identity for the post-exilic community.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The Chronicler intentionally selected a genealogy and settlement list for Simeon that highlights continuity with the patriarchs and provides a basis for post-exilic identity, while acknowledging the tribe's diminished status and historical land losses.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Differences from Genesis 46/Exodus 6 | Variations (Nemuel for Jemuel, Jarib for Jachin, Zerah for Zohar) are attributed to individuals having multiple names, a common Hebrew custom. | There is no substantial debate; the omission of Ohad is uniformly attributed to his lack of recorded descendants. |
| Omission of Ohad | Christians agree that Ohad did not leave a surviving family line, so his name is omitted from the Chronicler's genealogy. | None; this is the consensus of all major commentators. |
| Meaning of 'until David's reign' | The phrase indicates that some cities were no longer under Simeonite control after David's time, notably Ziklag. | Some commentators (e.g., Gill, Jewish tradition) suggest David reassigned these cities to Judah; others (Barnes) note it may reflect the source document used by the Chronicler. |
| Significance of the genealogical record | All traditions see the Chronicler's inclusion of Simeon as affirming that smaller tribes remain part of Israel. | No debate; the passage is consistently read as preserving identity for the post-exilic community. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Simeon's inheritance was carved out of Judah's territory (Joshua 19:1-9), fulfilling Jacob's prophecy that Simeon would be 'divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel' (Genesis 49:7). This scattering is evident in the tribe's small size: in Numbers 1 Simeon numbered 59,300, but by Numbers 26 it had shrunk to 22,200, while Judah grew to 76,500. The cities listed, Beersheba, Moladah, Ziklag, and others, were in the Negev and southern Shephelah, originally assigned to Judah and later reallocated to Simeon.
Many of these towns remained in Philistine hands until David's reign, as the Simeonites apparently failed to conquer them. David's acquisition of Ziklag (1 Samuel 27:6) formalized the loss of certain cities to Judah. The place names Beth-marcaboth ('house of chariots') and Hazar-susim ('court of horses') suggest royal chariot installations, possibly connected to Solomon's administrative centers (1 Kings 9:19), though the Chronicler traces them to an earlier period.
The Chronicler writes from a post-exilic perspective, using genealogies and settlement lists to anchor the restored community in its pre-exilic heritage. The notation 'until the reign of David' acknowledges political change, but the passage immediately moves to Simeonite expansion under Hezekiah (vv. 34-43). The Hebrew verb hit'yachsham (from yachas, H3187) in the Hithpael stem means 'they enrolled themselves by genealogy', an intentional act of identity preservation. For a tribe that could have been forgotten, this record proved they still belonged.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this passage. Name spellings vary slightly across translations (e.g., Shaul vs. Saul, Zacchur vs. Zaccur), but these reflect transliteration preferences, not differences in the Hebrew manuscript tradition.
Reception History
In the post-exilic context, this genealogy affirmed that Simeon remained part of Israel despite its small size. Later Jewish commentators (such as Kimchi, cited by Gill) discussed the villages and the Davidic transfer. Christian readers have often seen here a reminder of God's concern for the overlooked, and a type of how the old covenant community preserved its heritage. The passage is seldom featured in lectionaries but appears in studies of tribal history and the Chronicler's theology.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God remembers the small tribes. Simeon's line is preserved even though they were the smallest tribe. The Chronicler devotes space to them, showing that no one is too insignificant for God's care.
- Place and inheritance matter. The detailed list of cities and villages emphasizes that God gives his people a tangible stake in the land. Their history is rooted in real geography.
- The past secures hope for the future. By recording both genealogy and settlement, the Chronicler gives the post-exilic community a foundation. Knowing where they came from helps them face the future with faith.
Five-point outline
- Faithful record-keeping honors God. The Chronicler carefully preserves names and places, treating history as sacred.
- Small does not mean unimportant. Simeon's lack of numbers (v.27) does not erase them from the story.
- Loss can be redeemed. Cities were lost under David, but later Simeonites expanded under Hezekiah (vv. 34-43).
- Community identity requires memory. The verb 'kept their genealogy' implies active effort to maintain belonging.
- God's promises outlast political changes. The land tenure changed, but the tribe's identity remained.
Illustration hooks
- A family reunion where the youngest branch is included, though few attended.
- A town that lost its status to a neighboring city, but its residents still remember their heritage.
- Someone researching their ancestry and discovering a forgotten relative who still carried the family name.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God care about my family history, especially if my family is small or scattered?
- What does it mean that Simeon's cities were 'until the reign of David'? Did God abandon them?
- Why does the Bible include such detailed genealogies? What can I learn from them today?
Leading a Discussion
This genealogy might seem dry, but it carries profound truths about God's faithfulness to all his people, not just the prominent ones. Simeon was a small, scattered tribe, yet the Chronicler made sure their line and land were recorded. As you read through the list of names and places, consider what it means for a community to remember its history, even the parts that seem ordinary or disappointing.
Discussion questions
- What stands out to you as you read the list of Simeon's descendants and their cities?
- How does this genealogy differ from the lists in Genesis 46:10 and Exodus 6:15? Why might the Chronicler have made these changes?
- Verse 27 notes that Simeon's family 'did not multiply like the children of Judah.' What does this contrast tell us about the circumstances of the tribe?
- The cities are described as theirs 'until the reign of David.' Why is that time marker important for understanding the history?
- How does the Chronicler's inclusion of Simeon affect the way we think about smaller or less prominent groups in the church today?
- What does the phrase 'they kept their genealogy' suggest about the role of intentional memory in faith communities?
- How can we, like the Simeonites, hold onto our identity as God's people when circumstances shift around us?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 46:10 | The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. |
| Exodus 6:15 | The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon. |
| Numbers 26:12 | The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites; |
| Numbers 26:14 | These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty-two thousand two hundred. |
| Numbers 2:4 | His division, and those who were counted of them, were seventy-four thousand six hundred. |
| Numbers 2:13 | His division, and those who were counted of them, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred. |
| Numbers 26:22 | These are the families of Judah according to those who were counted of them, seventy-six thousand five hundred. |
| Joshua 15:28 | Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke attributes Simeon's dramatic population drop and loss of cities to a political shift: the tribe withdrew allegiance from David's house, and David responded by absorbing some of their towns into Judah, such as Ziklag. This explains why Simeon shrank to Israel's smallest tribe while Judah grew.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes points out that the phrase "unto the reign of David" is ambiguous. It may indicate a source document from David's time, or it could mean that some cities, such as Ziklag, were lost to Simeon during that period. He also clarifies that "their genealogy" refers to being registered according to where they lived.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible commentary focuses on discrepancies between Simeon's genealogical lists in different Old Testament passages, noting that five sons are named here instead of six and that Ohad is omitted, likely because he had no children. It also explains that place names like Beth-marcaboth mean "house of chariots," suggesting these were royal chariot cities, and clarifies that the reference to David's census does not necessarily mean Simeon lost these cities afterward.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note observes that the Simeonites' family was not as numerous as Judah's, and their listed cities extend only to the reign of David, suggesting a lesser prominence and a historical boundary for their recorded settlement.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Obed is omitted from Simeon’s genealogy because he died without children. He also observes that Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, while his brothers had few children, showing that the tribe of Simeon did not multiply as abundantly as Judah.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that Simeon's inheritance was carved from Judah's larger territory, and their failure to drive out the Philistines meant some allotted cities remained only nominally theirs. David eventually reassigned those cities to his own tribe of Judah because the Simeonites had forfeited their claim through sloth or cowardice.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch notes that Ohad's omission from Simeon's sons likely means his descendants died out before forming a
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange describes this section as a gathering of genealogical pebbles, ten or twelve isolated fragments with no visible connection, kept together only by their common link to Judah. He notes that the five names listed as "sons of Judah" actually represent distant generations, not direct sons, making the list highly peculiar. The section serves as both a supplement and a transition to the tribal survey.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that although Simeon’s tribe started small and never multiplied like Judah, God still granted them rich pasture and peaceful land. This shows divine care for even the less prominent families, who were not forgotten but received ample provision in their appointed place.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley sees Simeon's failure to grow and take its allotted cities as a direct result of Jacob's curse and Moses' neglect of the tribe. He notes that David later captured those cities from the Philistines and gave them to Judah, since Simeon had forfeited its right through cowardice.