7587. Shauli
Lexical Summary
Shauli: Shaulite

Original Word: שָׁאוּלִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: Sha'uwliy
Pronunciation: shaw-oo-LEE
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-oo-lee')
KJV: Shaulites
NASB: Shaulites
Word Origin: [patronymic from H7856 (שִׂטנָה - Sitnah)]

1. a Shaulite or descendant of Shaul

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Shaulites

Patronymic from Sitnan; a Shaulite or descendant of Shaul -- Shaulites.

see HEBREW Sitnan

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from Shaul
Definition
desc. of Shaul
NASB Translation
Shaulites (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
שָֽׁאוּלִי adjective, of a people of

3 above with accusative = proper name collective ׳הַשּׁ Numbers 26:13(P).

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Occurrence

Numbers 26:13 records the sole appearance of the term: “These were the clans of Simeon: The Nemuelite clan from Nemuel, the Jaminite clan from Jamin, the Jakinite clan from Jakin, the Zerahite clan from Zerah, and the Shaulite clan from Shaul.”

Genealogical Context

• The clan descends from Shaul, the youngest son of Simeon (Genesis 46:10; Exodus 6:15; 1 Chronicles 4:24).
• Unlike the other sons of Simeon, Shaul was born to a Canaanite mother, marking the Shaulites as the only Simeonite sub-tribe with mixed ancestry (Genesis 46:10).
• By the time of the second wilderness census, Shaul’s descendants had grown sufficiently to be recognized as a distinct mishpachah (“clan”), listed alongside those of his half-brothers.

Role in the Wilderness Census and Territorial Inheritance

• The second census (Numbers 26) was conducted on the plains of Moab after the plague at Baal-Peor and just before Israel crossed the Jordan. Identification by clans was crucial for the upcoming allocation of land “by lot” (Numbers 26:52-56).
• Simeon’s overall population had plummeted from 59,300 (Numbers 1:23) to 22,200 (Numbers 26:14). The inclusion of the Shaulites within this greatly diminished tribe underscores the preserving grace of God toward even the smallest family lines.
• When the land was apportioned, Simeon received towns and villages within Judah’s larger inheritance (Joshua 19:1-9). Although clan names are not cited in the distribution lists, the boundaries ensured that every Simeonite family—including the Shaulites—possessed a share in the covenant promises.

Later Historical Footprint

1 Chronicles 4 preserves Simeon’s genealogies after the Conquest. While the term “Shaulite” itself is not used, Shaul’s lineage is implicitly present in these registries, indicating the clan’s ongoing identity.
• As Simeon’s territory lay within Judah’s borders, Simeonite clans gradually merged culturally and militarily with Judah (2 Chronicles 15:9; 34:6). The Shaulites likely shared in this assimilation, which explains their relative obscurity in later narratives.
• No Shaulite individuals are singled out in the monarchy period or post-exilic records, yet their descendants would have been counted among those who returned to the land, fulfilling God’s promise of restoration (Ezra 1:5).

Spiritual and Prophetic Implications

1. Covenant Inclusivity: The fact that a clan springing from a Canaanite mother stood shoulder-to-shoulder with fully Israelite clans highlights the transformative power of covenant grace (compare Ephesians 2:12-13).
2. Divine Accountability: By naming every clan, Scripture stresses personal responsibility within the corporate community—an enduring principle for the church’s roll of believers (Revelation 20:12).
3. Hope for the Humble: Though the Shaulites leave no dramatic exploits, their quiet faithfulness encourages lesser-known servants today that “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work” (Hebrews 6:10).

Lessons for Ministry Today

• Record-keeping matters: Accurate membership rolls honor God’s order and aid pastoral care, echoing the meticulous census of Numbers.
• Every heritage can be redeemed: Like Shaul’s mixed lineage, backgrounds that seem marginal can be grafted fully into God’s family.
• Legacy over acclaim: Ministry significance is not measured by visibility but by fidelity; unseen Shaulites helped preserve Israel’s worship, just as unseen believers sustain Christ’s body now.

Forms and Transliterations
הַשָּׁאוּלִֽי׃ השאולי׃ haš·šā·’ū·lî hashshauLi haššā’ūlî
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Numbers 26:13
HEB: לְשָׁא֕וּל מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַשָּׁאוּלִֽי׃
NAS: of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
KJV: of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
INT: of Shaul the family of the Shaulites

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 7587
1 Occurrence


haš·šā·’ū·lî — 1 Occ.

7586
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