1 Chronicles 4:24

1 Chronicles 4:24 says, The sons of Simeon were, Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul:  We have the list of Simeon's sons.  Matthew Henry points out that God blesses some families with more children than others.  I believe all children are a blessing from God.  Verse twenty-five adds, Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.  Then we are given some of his grand children's names.  Verse twenty-six continues, And the sons of Mishma; Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, Shimei his son.  Verse twenty-seven states, And 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.  If all Simeons descendants had as many children as Shimei, that would explain why they were a large part of Israel.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And they dwelt at Beersheba, and Moladah, and Hazarshual,  Verse twenty-nine continues, And at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,  Verse thirty says, And at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,  Verse thirty-one adds, And at Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusim, and at Bethbirei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities unto the reign of David.  Verse thirty-two continues, And their villages were, Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities:  Verse thirty-three concludes, And all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal. These were their habitations, and their genealogy.  It is mentioned that they were devoted to Baal, and not to God.  Matthew Henry says that when David became king, they left these cities when ten tribes revolted, since these cities were a part of Judah.  We should never abandon our place in God's kingdom, and if we are a born-again believer, we never really will.  God secures us as His, but this isn't a license to sin.