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

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.