Simeon | |
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| שִׁמְעוֹן | |
.jpg) Painting byFrancisco de Zurbarán (fromJacob and his twelve sons, c. 1640–45) | |
| Pronunciation | Šim'ōn |
| Born | 1568BCE or 1567 BCE (21 or 28Tevet,AM 2194) |
| Died | Aged 120 or 127 |
| Resting place | Maybe Shim'on Ben Ya'akov Tomb,Israel 32°12′08″N34°57′35″E / 32.202224°N 34.959608°E /32.202224; 34.959608 |
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Simeon (Hebrew:שִׁמְעוֹן,Modern: Šīmʾōn,Tiberian: Šīmʾōn)[1][2] was the second of the six sons ofJacob andLeah, and the founder of theIsraelite tribe of Simeon, according to theBook of Genesis of theHebrew Bible. Biblical scholars regard the tribe as part of the original Israeliteconfederation. Simeon is absent in some sections of the Bible that list the other tribes, and some scholars think that it was not initially regarded as a distinct tribe.[3] Some Biblical scholars believe that Simeon was not considered a distinct tribe due to theZimri scandal. 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 affair ofBaal-peor.
The text of theTorah states that the name ofSimeon is about the fact thatGod heard that Leah was unloved by Jacob and preferred her sisterRachel.[4][5] This implies a derivation from theHebrew root (שְׁמַע)šāma, meaning 'to hear', 'to listen', and the verb (אוֹנִי)ʾōnī, meaning 'my suffering'. At other times, it is thought to derive from (שָׁם)šhām and (עָוֺן)ʿāvōn, meaning 'there is sin', which is argued to be a prophetic reference toZimri's sexualmiscegenation with aMidianite woman, a type of relationship which rabbinical sources regard as sinful.[6][7]
Alternatively, Hitzig, W. R. Smith, Stade, and Kerber compared שִׁמְעוֹןŠīmə‘ōn to Arabic سِمعsimˤ 'the offspring of the hyena and the female wolf'; as supports, Smith points to Arabic tribal namesSimˤ 'a subdivision of the defenders (theMedinites)' andSamˤān 'a subdivision ofTamim'.[8]
In the Torah account, Simeon's sisterDinah israped (or in some versions, seduced) by aCanaanite named Shechem. Simeon and his brotherLevi take violentrevenge against the inhabitants ofShechem by tricking them intocircumcising themselves and thenmassacring them while they are weakened.[9] The account dramatizes the tension between marriage within a group (endogamy) and with outsiders (exogamy).[10]
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 finalblessing, he condemns Simeon's descendants to becomedivided and scattered. Some Biblical scholars regard the account of the rape of Dinah as an aetiological myth, created by theJahwist, to justify the presence of a sanctuary at Shechem; in comparison to theElohist's justification of the Shechem sanctuary, where the land is simply purchased by Jacob, and dedicated toEl Elohe Israel (meaningEl is the God of Israel,mighty is the God of Israel, orGod, the God of Israel).[11] The Jahwist's account is viewed as a veiled slight against the sanctuary.[12]
Biblical scholars view Simeon's vengeance and punishment in the blessing as aetiological postdictions designed to explain why, in the time of the author of the blessing (900-700BC), the tribe of Simeon was dwindling out of existence.[12] Themidrashic book of Jasher argues that Simeon deceivedHamor by insisting that the men of Shechem would need to be circumcised. It goes on to say that Simeon was extremely strong, despite only being 14 years old, and was able to slaughter all the men of Shechem nearly single-handedly, only having assistance from his brotherLevi, and captured 100 young women, marrying the one named "Bonah."[3]
The classical rabbinical sources argue that Simeon was very fearless, but also was particularly envious, and so had always been antagonistic and spiteful towardsJoseph, owing to Joseph being Jacob's favourite son. Themidrashic book of Jasher argues that Simeon was the one who proposed that the brothers should kill Joseph. Other classical sources argue that it was Simeon who threw Joseph into a pit and became furious when he found out thatJudah had sold Joseph rather than killed him. According to the classical sources, Simeon suffered divine punishment for this inhumanity, with his right hand withered, but this caused Simeon to repent, so his hand was restored a week later.[3]
In the biblical Joseph narrative, when Joseph, having settled inEgypt, asks his brothers to bringBenjamin to him, he takes Simeonhostage to ensure they return.[13] 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.[14] Another theory was that Joseph singled out Simeon due to his 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 byManasseh, and imprisoned.[3]
According to theBook of Jubilees, Simeon was born on 21Tevet,[15] and according to thebook of Genesis, he had six sons.[16] Although some classical rabbinical sources argue that the mother of his children, and his wife, was Bonah, one of the women from Shechem, other classical rabbinical sources argue that Simeon's wife (and the mother of his children) wasDinah,his sister, who had insisted on the marriage before she would be willing to leave Shechem's home (Shechem was her rapist/lover). Many of the rabbinical sources argue that Simeon died aged 120, roughly three years before the death of his brotherReuben.[3] However,Numbers Rabbah states that Simeon became the senior of the brothers after Reuben had died.[17]
ASamaritan tradition recorded in the late 19th century considered Neby Shem'on, amaqam nearKfar Saba, to be the burial place of Simeon.[18]
Media related toSimeon (son of Jacob) at Wikimedia CommonsAuthority control databases: National |
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