Why does the Torah add the word "Pekudav" regarding the tribe of Shimon?
Rabeinu Bachye (in Pasuk 20): It is an expression of 'Pekidas Avon' - Hashem visited upon the tribe the sin of Shimon their founding-father (who took hold of Yosef and cast him into the pit), and the Satan was able to reduce their number (in the census in Pinchas, after their Nasi Zimri sinned 1 ) to far less than half of their number 2 here. 3
In Balak, 25:14. the Moshav Zekenim presents a similar explanation in the name of R. Yehudah ha'Chasid.
From more than fifty-nine thousand down to just over twenty-two thousand.
See 26:14. See also R. Chavel's footnotes, citing Pesikta Zutr'sa, who therefore explains "Pekudav" as 'missing' (as in Shmuel 1, 18:20 - "Vayipaked M'kom David"). See also Ba'al ha'Turim - though he is not discussing the word "Pekudav".
?be?Mispar Sheimos le?Gulgelosam?. Why is a. the top of the first ?Lamed? in ?Gulgelosam? bent and b. the top of the second ?Lamed is straight like a saw and without a cap?
Ba?al ha?Turim (citing the Yalkut Shim?oni):: Because the Nasi of Shimon was Zimri ben Salu, who sinned, causing many of his tribe to fall ? and the ?Lamed? is otherwise the tallest letter.
?B?nei Shimon ? ?. What is the significance of the order of the tribes?
R. Bachye (on Pasuk 20): They are listed in the order of the four Degalim 1 - Reuven, Yehudah, Efrayim and Dan ? each one followed by thetwo tribes that formed his camp:Reuven ? Shimon and Gad; Yehudah ? Yisachar and Zevullun; Efrayim ? Menasheh and Binyamin; Dan - Asher and Naftali.
R. Bachye: In the same way as they are listed in chapter #7.
