Joshua 19:9

of the children of Simeon In this "Negeb" or "land of the south," Simeon now took up his abode. Like Reuben on the east of Jordan, the tribe was destined to have little influence on the subsequent history, to be divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel(Genesis 49:5-7). In the prophecy of Moses he is not even mentioned (Deuteronomy 33), nor are we told what part he took at the time of the division of the kingdom. "As time rolled on, the tribe gradually crossed the imperceptible boundary between civilisation and barbarism, between Palestine and the Desert, and, in -the days of Hezekiah" (1 Chronicles 4:28-43), they wandered forth to the east to seek pasture for their flocks, and -smote the tents" of the pastoral tribes who had -dwelt there of old;" and roved along across the "Arabahtill they arrived at the -Mount Seir" the range of Petra and -smote the rest of the Amalekites, and dwelt there unto this day." " Stanley, Sinai and Palestine, p. 161. "It is startling to find that a tribe professing to be" of the "sons of Israel," and holding no connection with the Arabs of the district, is still to be found in the country around Petra, literally fulfilling an ancient prediction: "They of the South (the Negeb) shall possess the mount of Esau." See Pusey's Commentaryon Obadiah 1:19.