Simeon in Smiths Bible Dictionary
(heard).
1. The second of Jacob's son by Leah. His birth is
recorded in Ge 29:33 The first group of Jacob's children
consists, besides Simeon, of the three other sons of Leah --
Reuben, Levi, Judah. Besides the massacre of Shechem, Ge
34:25 the only personal incident related of Simeon is the
fact of his being selected by Joseph as the hostage for the
appearance of Benjamin. Ge 42:19,24,36; 43:23 The chief
families of the tribe of Simeon are mentioned int he lists
of Ge 46:10 At the census of Sinai Simeon numbered 59,300
fighting men. Nu 1:23 When the second census was taken, at
Shittim, the numbers had fallen to 22,200, and it was the
weakest of all the tribes. This was no doubt partly due to
the recent mortality following the idolatry of Peor, but
there must have been other causes which have escaped
mention. To Simeon was allotted a portion of land out of the
territory of Judah, on its southern frontier, which
contained eighteen or nineteen cities, with their villages,
spread round the venerable well of Beersheba. Jos 19:1-8;
1Ch 4:28-33 Of these places, with the help of Judah, the
Simeonites possessed themselves, Jud 1:3,17 and there they
were found, doubtless by Joab, residing in the reign of
David. 1Ch 4:31 What part of the tribe took at the time of
the division of the kingdom we are not told. The only thing
which can be interpreted into a trace of its having taken
any part with the northern kingdom are the two casual
notices of 2Ch 15:9 and 2Chr 34:6
which appear to imply the presence of Simeonites
there in the reigns of Asa and Josiah. On the other hand the
definite statement of 1Ch 4:41-43 proves that at that time
there were still some of them remaining in the original seat
of the tribe, and actuated by all the warlike, lawless
spirit of their progenitor.
2. A devout Jew, inspired by the Holy Ghost, who met
the parents of our Lord in the temple, took him in his arms,
and gave thanks for what he saw and knew of Jesus. Lu 2:25-
35 There was a Simeon who succeeded his father Hillel as
president of the Sanhedrin about A.D. 13, and whose son
Gamaliel was the Pharisee at whose feet St. Paul was brought
up. Ac 22:3 It has been conjectured that he may be the
Simeon of St. Luke.
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