Simeon (son of Jacob)
Simeon | |
---|---|
שִׁמְעוֹן | |
Died | Aged 120 or 127 |
Resting place | Maybe Shim'on Ben Ya'akov Tomb, Israel 32°12′08″N 34°57′35″E / 32.202224°N 34.959608°E |
Children |
|
Parents | |
Relatives |
|
Simeon (Hebrew: שִׁמְעוֹן, Modern: Šīmʾōn, Tiberian: Šīmʾōn)[1] was the second of the six sons of Jacob and Leah, and the founder of the Israelite tribe, The Tribe of Simeon, according to the Book of Genesis of the Hebrew Bible. Biblical scholars regard the tribe as having been part of the original Israelite confederation. The tribe is absent from the parts of the Bible. Some scholars think that Simeon was not originally regarded as a distinct tribe.[2] However, many Biblical scholars believe that Simeon isn't regarded as a distinct tribe due to the scandal involving Zimri. The Blessing of Moses before his death had omitted the Tribe of Simeon because Jacob had castigated him Genesis 49:5-7, and because of the terrible affair of Baal-peor.
Simeon's name
The text of the
Alternatively, Hitzig, W. R. Smith, Stade, and Kerber compared שִׁמְעוֹן Šīmə‘ōn to Arabic سِمع simˤ 'the offspring of the hyena and the female wolf'; as supports, Smith points to Arabic tribal names Simˤ 'a subdivision of the defenders (the Medinites)' and Samˤān 'a subdivision of Tamim'.[7]
Simeon in Shechem
In the Torah's account of the
Jacob castigates Simeon and Levi for this as their actions have placed the family in danger of a retaliatory strike by their neighbors. Later, in his final
Simeon's vengeance, and punishment in the blessing, are viewed by biblical scholars as aetiological postdictions which were designed to explain why, in the time of the author of the blessing (900-700BC), the tribe of Simeon was dwindling out of existence.
Relation with Joseph
The classical rabbinical sources argue that Simeon was very fearless, but also was particularly envious, and so had always been antagonistic and spiteful towards
In the biblical Joseph narrative, when Joseph, having settled in Egypt, asks his brothers to bring Benjamin to him, he takes Simeon hostage to ensure that they return.[12] According to classical rabbinical sources, Joseph chose Simeon to be the hostage because he was concerned that if Simeon was not separated from Levi, then Levi and Simeon might destroy Egypt together, since they had already destroyed Shechem.[13] Another theory was that Joseph singled out Simeon due to his taking a prominent role in Joseph's betrayal. According to the midrashic book of Jasher, Simeon was not willing to become a hostage, so Joseph sent 70 strong Egyptians to take Simeon by force, but Simeon had a very powerful voice, and so was able to scare off the Egyptians simply by shouting. The text states that Simeon was eventually subdued by Manasseh, and imprisoned.[2]
According to the
Tomb
A Samaritan tradition recorded in the late 19th century considered Neby Shem'on, a maqam near Kfar Saba, to be the burial place of Simeon.[17]
Children
- Jemuel (also called Nemuel)[18] - The Clan of The Nemuelites
- Jamin - The Clan of The Jaminites
- Ohad
- Jachin - The Clan of The Jachinites
- Zohar (also called Zerah)[19] - The Clan of The Zerahites
- Shaul (also called Saul)[20] (Son of The Canaanite Woman)[21] - The Clan of The Saulites
See also
References
- ISBN 978-1783746767.
- ^ a b c d e "Simeon, Tribe of", Jewish Encyclopedia
- ^ Genesis 29:33
- ^ "Genesis 29:33". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
- ^ Deuteronomy 7:3
- ^ "Deuteronomy 7:3". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
- ^ Encyclopædia Biblica: Q to Z, edited by Thomas Kelly Chase. p. 4531
- ^ Genesis 34:25
- ^ "Dinah: Bible.", Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia. 20 March 2009. Jewish Women's Archive. (Viewed on August 6, 2014)
- ^ Genesis 33:19
- ^ a b Friedmann, Richard Eliot, Who wrote the Bible
- ^ Genesis 42:24+
- ^ Genesis Rabbah 91:6
- ^ Jubilees 28:13
- ^ Genesis 46:8, 46:10
- ^ Numbers Rabbah 13:10
- ^ Conder and Kitchener, 1882, SWP II, p. 219
- ^ "Numbers 26:12". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
- Shlomo ben Aderet: (responsa i., No. 12; quoted in the Jewish Encyclopedia): "one of the sons of Simeon is called Zohar in Gen. 46:10 and Ex. 6:15, and Zerah in Num. 26:13, but since both names signify 'magnificent,' the double nomenclature is explained."
- ^ "Numbers 26:13". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
- ^ "Genesis 46:10". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
External links
- Media related to Simeon (son of Jacob) at Wikimedia Commons