Simeon

Size: First Census: 59,300. Second Census:22,200. Between the two censuses- a span of 40 years-- the size of the tribe significantly decreased. Though it's not clear why, it's possible that they suffered some severely than the other tribes from the plagues recorded in the book of Numbers (See Num. 25).

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Location: Enclave of land in Judah, likely with scattered settlements in Judah. Included Beersheba.

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Jacob's Blessing: Along with his brother Levi, Simeon attacked the people of the city of Shechem to avenge the assult on his sister Dinah (Gen. 34:24-31). Jacob rebuked Levi and Simeon saying, "their swords are weapons of violenece. Let me not enter their council ... for they have killed men in their  anger... I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel" (Gen. 49:5-7) .

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Moses' Blessing: Moses does not mention the tribe of Simeon.

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Notable: When Jacob's sons went to Egypt to buy food during a famine, Joseph imprisoned Simeon as a guarentee that Benjamin, their youngest brother, would be brought to Joseph ( Gen. 44-43) .

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The tribe was known for being shepherds, often migrating in seach of pasturelands for their flocks, possibly a fulfillment of Jacobs's prophecy that Simeon will be scattered and dispersed (1 Chron. 4:24-43).