12
These were the clans descended from the sons of Simeon: The Jemuelite clan, named after their ancestor Jemuel. The Jaminite clan, named after their ancestor Jamin. The Jakinite clan, named after their ancestor Jakin.
Ver. 12-14. The sons of Simeon, after their families This tribe was next numbered, not only because Simeon was next to Reuben by birth, but because his tribe was under the standard of Reuben; two of his sons are a little differently named here than they are in ( Genesis 46:10 ) , there the eldest is called Jemuel, here Nemuel; there the youngest but one is named Zohar, here Zerah; and one of them is here omitted, namely Ohad, perhaps because he died without children, and so no family sprang from him; wherefore the families of Simeon were but five, and the number of them were 22,200; by which it appears there was a very great decrease in this tribe since the last muster, even 37,100 which in some measure is to be accounted for by the great number of this tribe supposed to have died of the plague, on account of fornication and idolatry, made mention of in the preceding chapter; a prince in this tribe having set a bad example, it is probable he was followed in it by many of it, for which great numbers were cut off. Jarchi, from Tanchuma, says, that all the 24,000 that died of the plague was of the tribe of Simeon; and so says the Samaritan Chronicle {o}; but that is not likely. FOOTNOTES:
F15 Apud Hottinger. ut supra. (Smegma Oriental, l. 1. c. 8. p. 448.)
10
But the earth opened up its mouth and swallowed them with Korah, and fire devoured 250 of their followers. This served as a warning to the entire nation of Israel.
11
However, the sons of Korah did not die that day.
12
These were the clans descended from the sons of Simeon: The Jemuelite clan, named after their ancestor Jemuel. The Jaminite clan, named after their ancestor Jamin. The Jakinite clan, named after their ancestor Jakin.
13
The Zoharite clan, named after their ancestor Zohar. The Shaulite clan, named after their ancestor Shaul.
14
These were the clans of Simeon. Their registered troops numbered 22,200.
Footnotes 1
[a].
As in Syriac version (see also Gen 46:10 ; Exod 6:15 ); Hebrew reads Nemuelite . . . Nemuel.