Some Characteristics of an Israelite Tribe.
Contents:
1. The Tribe of Simeon in the Land of Israel and in Exile.
2. Individuals from Simeon. Deprived?
3. Fraternity, Honour, and Fraternalizing.
4. Joseph and Simeon.
5. Tools of Violence.
6. The Sages Opinion Concerning Simeon.
7. A Character Profile. Bringing it all together.
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1. The Tribe of Simeon in the Land of Israel and in Exile.
Simeon received territory south of Judah. Later they migrated further to the south and also segments from Simeon moved to east of the Jordan (1-Chronicles 4:38-43).
The Tribes of Israel divided into two sections, one on the north and the other in the south.
Even though it was in the south most of Simeon appears to have been under the suzerainty of the North. Findings in Kuntillet Ajrud in northern Sinai reveal remains of an Israelite Settlement presumably pertaining to Simeon the dormant Tribe in that area. Inscriptions speak of Samaria (the northern Kingdom of 10 Tribes) and artifacts are of Northern Israelite type. In addition to that the Bible mentions Simeon among the desolated lands of the Northern Kingdom. King Josiah of Judah went through these ruined areas and purified them of idolatrous remains.
2-Chronicles 34:
5 HE ALSO BURNED THE BONES OF THE PRIESTS ON THEIR ALTARS, AND CLEANSED JUDAH AND JERUSALEM. 6 AND SO HE DID IN THE CITIES OF MANASSEH, EPHRAIM, AND SIMEON, AS FAR AS NAPHTALI AND ALL AROUND, WITH AXES.
The expression translated as "with axes" in Hebrew is "Be-Charvotahem" meaning literally "in their ruins."
Even though most of Simeon was exiled together with the Ten Tribes some remained.
The northern Ten Tribes were exiled and Simeon along with them. Some of them migrated to southern Russia and became identified with the Khazars who returned to become Jews.
The Khazars had a tradition that they descended from the Tribes of Manasseh and Simeon.
Most of the Ten Tribes eventually moved northwards and to the west settling in Western Lands. Elements from Simeon were to be found among them.
Ptolemy recalled the SIMENI on the east coast of Britain. The Welsh are called Semoni in Welsh and Irish Literature. The Fir Bolg, of Irish Mythology, settled in Ireland and Britain and named Semuen7son of Isru (i.e. "Israel") as one of their ancestors. Ptolemy registers the Samnetes (of Simeon) in the Province of Brittany in West France. This area of France had cultural contacts with Wales and was to be settled in part by Celtic settlers from Britain. In Celtic Britain, according to Ptolemy the SIMENI were bordered by the Iduma River that is similarly named to Idumea or Edom part of whose lands had been conquered by the Tribe of Simeon, as we noticed, in the Land of Israel. South of the British Iduma River were the ICENI (Ikeni) people whose name resembles that of Jachin (Numbers 26:12) son of Simeon. Other elements from Simeon were to be found in Brittany of France, among the Anglo-Saxons who invaded England, and among the Lombards of Italy..
We also find clans from Simeon in Belgium, the Netherlands, and in Wales.
See Also:
Simeon Exiled.
Did Simeon go with the Ten Tribes or Remain with Judah?
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/tribes/simeonexiled.html
From the above we see that Simeon was to be found among both Judah and the Ten Tribes but mostly the Ten Tribes.
It had been prophesied that both groups wqould be scattered among the rest of Israel.
Jacob (aka Israel) said concerning Simeon and Levi:
Genesis 49:7 ...I WILL DIVIDE THEM IN JACOB AND SCATTER THEM IN ISRAEL.
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2. Individuals from Simeon. Deprived?
Simeon was the son of Leah and Jacob. Before he was born his mother had felt that Jacob her husband was not relating to her as he should:
Genesis (NKJV) 29:
33 THEN SHE CONCEIVED AGAIN AND BORE A SON, AND SAID, BECAUSE THE LORD HAS HEARD THAT I AM UNLOVED, HE HAS THEREFORE GIVEN ME THIS SON ALSO. AND SHE CALLED HIS NAME SIMEON.
The name "Simeon": may be understood to mean, "Shema" {Hear) "Oni" pain, deprivation, or anguish, i.e. "Hear my Pain."
Someone with a name like this and conscious of its meaning could be expected to be a person who believes but feels deprived, perhaps discriminated against.
A lot of people have such feelings. Many of us go through stages where it could seem as if the world is against us. Some had a tendency to feel that way more than others.
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3. Fraternity, Honor, and Fraternalizing.
After the birth of 11 of his 12 sons Jacob took his children and his two main wives (Rachel and Leah), and their maidservants his secondary wives (Bilhah and Zilpah) and left.
He went out of the Land of Aram where his in-laws dwelt and returned to the Land of Canaan that he had come from. They came to the area of Schechem. The local prince of Schechem was named "Hamor" meaning "Donkey." He had a son called "Schechem" after the place he dwelt in
Shchechem abducted Dinah the daughter of Jacob and sister of the brothers. He raped and abused her, and kept her with him. Hamor, then requested that the family of Jacob let them keep Dinah as wife of Schechem and that the Family of Jacob should intermix with the people of Schechem. The reply was that first the locals should circumcise themselves. Hamor convinced his subjects to do as requested saying that the wealth and daughters of the Hebrews would then be available to them.
Genesis (NKJV) 34:
25 NOW IT CAME TO PASS ON THE THIRD DAY, WHEN THEY WERE IN PAIN, THAT TWO OF THE SONS OF JACOB, SIMEON AND LEVI, DINAHS BROTHERS, EACH TOOK HIS SWORD AND CAME BOLDLY UPON THE CITY AND KILLED ALL THE MALES. 26 AND THEY KILLED HAMOR AND SHECHEM HIS SON WITH THE EDGE OF THE SWORD, AND TOOK DINAH FROM SHECHEMS HOUSE, AND WENT OUT. 27 THE SONS OF JACOB CAME UPON THE SLAIN, AND PLUNDERED THE CITY, BECAUSE THEIR SISTER HAD BEEN DEFILED.
The Sages noted that Simeon and Levi are referred to as "Dinahs brothers." Out of all the brothers they were ones who showed the most fraternal empathy and acted on it. They asked their lives to save their sister.
Jacob was not happy with this.
Genesies (NKJV) 34:
30 THEN JACOB SAID TO SIMEON AND LEVI, YOU HAVE TROUBLED ME BY MAKING ME OBNOXIOUS AMONG THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND, AMONG THE CANAANITES AND THE PERIZZITES; AND SINCE I AM FEW IN NUMBER, THEY WILL GATHER THEMSELVES TOGETHER AGAINST ME AND KILL ME. I SHALL BE DESTROYED, MY HOUSEHOLD AND I.
31 BUT THEY SAID, SHOULD HE TREAT OUR SISTER LIKE A HARLOT?
Simeon and Levi felt an obligation to defend the Family Honour despite the chance of having to pay a great price for it.
We have here the attitude of doing everything possible to help family members in need and of placing self-respect very high in their scale of values.
We also see Simeon and Levi referred to together as "brothers." All the sons of Jacob were brothers but these two acted together and gave expression to it.
Later we find Simeon forming a special association with Judah as extra bonding within the overall League of Israelite Tribes.
Joshua (NKJV) 19:
9 THE INHERITANCE OF THE CHILDREN OF SIMEON WAS INCLUDED IN THE SHARE OF THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH, FOR THE SHARE OF THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH WAS TOO MUCH FOR THEM. THEREFORE THE CHILDREN OF SIMEON HAD THEIR INHERITANCE WITHIN THE INHERITANCE OF THAT PEOPLE.
Judges (NKJV) 1:
1 NOW AFTER THE DEATH OF JOSHUA IT CAME TO PASS THAT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL ASKED THE LORD, SAYING, WHO SHALL BE FIRST TO GO UP FOR US AGAINST THE CANAANITES TO FIGHT AGAINST THEM?
2 AND THE LORD SAID, JUDAH SHALL GO UP. INDEED I HAVE DELIVERED THE LAND INTO HIS HAND.
3 SO JUDAH SAID TO SIMEON HIS BROTHER, COME UP WITH ME TO MY ALLOTTED TERRITORY, THAT WE MAY FIGHT AGAINST THE CANAANITES; AND I WILL LIKEWISE GO WITH YOU TO YOUR ALLOTTED TERRITORY. AND SIMEON WENT WITH HIM.
Simeon and Judah at first shared the same inheritance though later Simeon moved out to some degree.
Simeon and Manasseh.
Another partnership with other Israelites Tribes concerns Manasseh.
The Sages (Talmud, Baba Batra 123b) said that when a portion of the Simeonites left their initial inheritance and moved to somewhere east of the Jordan (1-Chronicles 4:42-43) they appointed Princes from Manasseh as their leaders.
So too, elements from Simeon led by Princes from Manasseh helped give raise to the Khazars many of whom later converted to Judaism and returned re-connect with Judah.
We are told that:
The Tribe of Manasseh increased in the Wilderness whereas that of Simeon diminished.
Manasseh increased by more than 20,000 whereas Simeon diminished by ca. 37,300 which included the 24,000 who died because of sinning with the Midianite women (Numbers 25:9).
Fishel Mael quotes from "Niflaot mi Totetecah" ("Wonders from Your Torah") by Rabbi Mordecai Aronovski:
The souls from Simeon went to Manasseh.
In may be that many from Simeon were assimilated by Manasseh.
Other possibilities of a link between Simeon and the Tribes of Joseph exist.
See:
Simeon - by Fishel Mael articles/jew/judah-index.html
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/tribes/simeon/simeonmael.html
On a prosaic level this may indicate that many from Simeon were assimilated by Manasseh.
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4. Joseph and Simeon.
After the incident with Schechem Jacob took his family and moved on. Near Ephrath by Bethlehem Rachel the mother of Joseph gave birth to Benjamin and died in doing so. Joseph gave a bad mistaken report about his brothers to their father. The Sages understood that Joseph thought they were breaking very severe prohibitions. Jacob treated Joseph as his favourite son. He made a special cloak of coloured stripes (indicating royal rank) for him. Joseph had two dreams indicating that he was destined to rule over the whole family. The brothers may have feared that Joseph was planning to dispossess them and their dependents. They decided to kill him but at the last-minute Judah persuaded them to sell him as a slave to a caravan of Ishmaelites going down to Egypt. In Egypt Joseph rose to became the virtual ruler of the country. In Canaan they were suffering from famine. Jacob sent 10 of his sons (all except Benjamin) to buy grain from Egypt. Joseph recognized them but they did not know him. Joseph accused them of being spies. He allowed them to return on condition that next time they bring Benjamin with them. He kept Simeon with him as hostage. The brothers took the grain to Jacob and their families and used it up. They then came back bringing Benjamin with them. When they came to him Joseph released Simeon (Genesis 43:23). After that Joseph was reconciled to his brothers.
It has been suggested that Simeon was the one who proposed killing Joseph before it was decided to sell him to the Ishmaelites.
The logic goes something like this:
It could not have been Reuben since we see that Reuben wanted to rescue Joseph though he failed to do so.
It could not have been Judah since he proposed selling him instead of leaving him to die.
It was not likely to have been any of the sons of Bilhah or Zilpah since Joseph had minded the flocks with them and presumably would have been relatively friendly with them (Genesis 37:2).
Benjamin was too young at the time and attended their father.
This leaves Simeon, Levi, Issachar, and Zebulon and there were other reasons excluding them all apart from Simeon. In addition Simeon together with his brother Levi had wiped out the city of Schechem so he had a track record of taking extreme measures.
Simeon and Levi were later condemned by their father for intending to "Uproot a bul" (translated as "hamstrung an ox" Genesis 49:6) meaning intending to kill Joseph who is represented by a bull (Deuteronomy 33:17)..
Levi is excluded for other reasons.
There is a Midrash discussing this matter.
This confirms the indications that Simeon was more extreme than his brothers, more prone to violent measures, with a strong tendency for self-preservation at all costs, and sensitive to the needs of social hierarchy.
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5. Tools of Violence.
Jacob prophesied concerning Simeon and Levi.
Genesis (NKJV) 49:
5 SIMEON AND LEVI ARE BROTHERS;
INSTRUMENTS OF CRUELTY ARE IN THEIR DWELLING PLACE.
6 LET NOT MY SOUL ENTER THEIR COUNCIL;
LET NOT MY HONOR BE UNITED TO THEIR ASSEMBLY;
FOR IN THEIR ANGER THEY SLEW A MAN,
AND IN THEIR SELF-WILL THEY HAMSTRUNG AN OX.
7 CURSED BE THEIR ANGER, FOR IT IS FIERCE;
AND THEIR WRATH, FOR IT IS CRUEL!
I WILL DIVIDE THEM IN JACOB
AND SCATTER THEM IN ISRAEL.
The expression,
"INSTRUMENTS OF CRUELTY ARE IN THEIR DWELLING PLACE" in Hebrew may be more exactly translated as saying, "TOOLS OF VIOLENCE ARE THEIR MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD."
We find many from Simeon among the Irish who otherwise are dominated by the Tribes of Dan and Asher. In the USA many police officials as well as the lawyers and legal workers are of Irish descent. This fits descent from both the Tribes of Dan (whose name connotes judgement) and Simeon.
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6. The Sages Opinion Concerning Simeon.
We saw that Simeon was to be found both among the Jews of Judah and together with the Ten Tribes in Exile.
One opinion says that Simeon among the Jews (of Judah) comprised the Teachers of Children, the Scribes, and the indigent poor (Midrash Breishit Rabah 88:10, Rashi on Genesis 49:7).
In the timer of the Sages teachers of little children needed to instruct them to read and write and to be part of the group. This often involved chanting Biblical Passages together in a sing-song voice.
Among other things it would have uncalculated musical appreciation and a feeling for balance.
Simeon and Levi were described as earning their livelihood through tools of violence.
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7. A Character Profile. Bringing it all together.
Simeon may have traditional conservative values with a possible "chip on his shoulder" feeling he is not getting what he deserves. Together with this he could also be religious and of a spiritual inclination.
If wronged he will appeal to God, and if he is not religious then go to an other authority.
He has a sense of loyalty to his family and friends, and would risk his life for them. He is brave and may be violent and impulsive. Simeon is socially conservative and prefers matters to be conducted in an accepted way though the possibility of revolution is not unknown to him.
When he finds himself in a group, he looks to find a fellow like himself to make a separate pact with. He can be jealous. If he feels pressured, he may take extreme measures to preserve the status quo or restore it.
He may prefer working as a teacher, instructor, counsellor, policeman, legal worker, or bureaucrat.
This description is quite wide and could encompass a good number of us.
Nevertheless, it is all a question of emphasis.
Descendants of Simeon may well be found to emphasize the points delineated above to a greater degree than others.
The Rabbinical Scholar and authority on the Tribes, Rabbi Fishel Mael, quotes sources indicating that Simeon had negative tendencies. It is claimed he tended more to intermix with non-Israelite elements and have weakness leading to idolatry and promiscuity. This may be worth noting but it should not be over-emphasized.
See:
"Simeon" - by Fishel Mael
https://hebrewnations.com/articles/tribes/simeon/simeonmael.html
We all need each other.