What is the meaning of Genesis 46:10? The sons of Simeon “The sons of Simeon” (Genesis 46:10) introduces a genuine historical record of Jacob’s second son’s family who moved to Egypt with him. • Simeon was born to Leah (Genesis 29:33) and had earlier been involved in defending family honor at Shechem (Genesis 34:25). • God had promised Abraham that his offspring would become a great nation (Genesis 15:13-16); this genealogy shows the first visible steps of that promise being fulfilled, as later counted in Numbers 26:12-14. • Every name that follows affirms God’s personal interest in individuals as well as clans, echoing Psalm 147:4—“He determines the number of the stars; He calls them each by name”. Jemuel The first listed son, also called “Nemuel” in Numbers 26:12 and 1 Chronicles 4:24, heads the Nemuelite clan. • The slight spelling variation in later books is a normal occurrence and does not contradict but rather confirms that Scripture consistently traces the same line across centuries. • His inclusion here guarantees his descendants’ share in the future tribal inheritance (Joshua 19:1). Jamin Jamin, second in the list, fathers the Jaminites (Numbers 26:12). • His branch eventually settles in the southern allotment of Simeon’s territory within Judah (Joshua 19:1-9). • Isaiah 40:11 pictures the Lord shepherding His flock; genealogies like this show Him doing so family by family. Ohad Ohad appears only here and in Exodus 6:15. • Though little else is recorded, the Spirit still preserves his name, reminding us that obscurity on earth never diminishes value before God (Matthew 10:30). • His descendants are counted among the seventy who went down to Egypt (Exodus 1:5). Jachin Jachin gives rise to the Jachinites, called “Jarib” in 1 Chronicles 4:24. • Minor variations underscore that the biblical record spans generations yet maintains integrity (Psalm 119:160). • His clan later helps populate Simeon’s towns such as Beersheba and Moladah (1 Chronicles 4:28-33). Zohar Listed fifth, Zohar’s line is also rendered “Zerah” in Numbers 26:13. • The Zoharites contribute to Simeon’s military strength recorded in Numbers 1:23. • Their continuing presence in Judah’s southern region in the days of Hezekiah (1 Chronicles 4:42-43) illustrates the endurance of God’s covenant mercy (Deuteronomy 7:9). Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman Shaul stands out because Scripture notes his mother’s ethnicity. • This detail signals that even before the Exodus, the covenant community already included individuals with mixed heritage, foreshadowing the “mixed multitude” that would leave Egypt (Exodus 12:38). • It prefigures God’s heart for the nations, later highlighted in Ruth 1:16 and Acts 15:14. • Simeon’s earlier violence against Canaanites (Genesis 34) did not prevent God from graciously incorporating a Canaanite woman into the family line, demonstrating His sovereign mercy (Romans 9:15-16). summary Genesis 46:10 is more than a list; it is a snapshot of God’s faithfulness. Each name reinforces that His promises to Abraham are advancing, His knowledge of individuals is intimate, and His plan is embracing—already hinting that people from every nation can find a place among His people. |
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