1 Chronicles 4:24-43

content/bible_journal/1chronicles_4:24-43.md

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
++++
+title = "1 Chronicles 4:24–43"
+date = "2023-09-10"
++++
+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1Chronicles4.24-43)
+
+_Ed.: I'm chronically running short on sleep, so length and frequency of posts
+are probably going to go down. My wife is also going to have a baby any day
+now, so I don't see a lot of sleep in my forseeable future._
+
+* * *
+
+The genealogy finally turns away from the tribe of Judah and begins listing the
+other tribes. This is interesting because the exiles were mostly from the
+tribes of Judah and Benjamin, being from the southern kingdom of Judah. The ten
+northern tribes were exiled earlier by the Assyrians and dispersed throughout
+that empire, and did not maintain their cultural identity the way the Jews did
+in Babylon.
+
+The tribe of Simeon was often associated with Judah, however, and many of the
+cities listed here were given to the tribe of Judah in the time of King David,
+so it makes sense for the Chronicler to remind the people of what their
+territory would be as they returned to the land. When the land allotments were
+first given, Simeon settled in an enclave within Judah's territory. We are told
+here that they did not multiply very much like Judah did, despite Shimei's
+twenty-two children. Over time, they probably mixed with the surrounding
+Judahites and ceased being a separate tribe.
+
+Even though they had few numbers, the Simeonites expanded their borders and
+grew rich. Their herds and flocks increased on the good pasture land. Some
+historical markers are given for the timeframe of this expansion, as it is
+linked with the reign of King Hezekiah.
+
+* * *
+
+You have glorified Yourself and will continue to do so throughout history.