Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his brothers did not have many children; so their entire clan did not become as numerous as the people of Judah. – 1 Chronicles 4:27

Today's Scripture Reading (May 10, 2022):  1 Chronicles 4

Trends in the western world are that people have fewer and fewer children. Maybe that is not important to some, but it might be to others. In terms of what is swiftly becoming an overcrowded world, fewer children might not be considered a significant problem. But it could have a racial impact on our planet, especially if one race has fewer children while another race increases its birth rate.

I have commented that my grandfather felt the continuation of his name was important. But that required a son. My grandfather did his part in continuing his tribe; he had two children, and both were sons. But the next generation created a bit of an issue. Four children were born to my grandfather's sons, but I was the only male descendant. My son was born just a year before my grandfather passed away, and he was one of my first calls so that he knew that the next generation would also have a Mullen to represent his tribe. My son has now also had a son, James. And so, my grandfather's tribe will last for at least one more generation.

Ultimately, none of this can be considered a significant problem in our contemporary society. The world will not be affected if the male line of grandfather ends, and the daughters born into the family are all formidable and talented people. But to the world that is reflected by Chronicles, children were important. So, the author of Chronicles tells us that Shimei had twenty-two children; sixteen sons and six daughters. The children of Shimei bode well for the Tribe of Simeon. But the book of Numbers tells a different story. According to Numbers, the population of the tribe at the beginning of the wilderness wandering was 59,300 (Numbers 1:23). But, by the end of the four decades that Israel spent in the wilderness, the population had dwindled to less than half the original number. According to the census at the end of Numbers, the population of Simeon was only 22,200 (Number 26:14).

The author of Chronicles attempts to explain the reason for the decline to his readers. And according to Chronicles, the tribe declined because Shimei's twenty-two children were the exception to the rule. Shimei's brothers did not have many children. Therefore, the tribe did not become as numerous as the other tribes, and specifically, not as numerous as the tribe of Judah with which the author of Chronicles is primarily concerned.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 5