Simeon
Jacob's second son and ancestor of the tribe of Simeon
Simeon was the second son of Jacob and Leah, and one of the twelve patriarchs of Israel. He is particularly known for his violent revenge against the city of Shechem together with his brother Levi, after their sister Dinah was dishonored. His tribe was later absorbed into the territory of the tribe of Judah, in accordance with Jacob's prophetic blessing that predicted dispersion within Israel.
Family
FatherJacobMotherLeahSiblingReuben (Leah's son)SiblingLevi (son of Leah)SiblingJudahSiblingDan (Bilhah's son)SiblingNaphtali (Bilhah's son)SiblingGad (son of Zilpah)SiblingAsher (son of Zilpah)SiblingIssachar (Leah's son)SiblingZebulun (Leah's son)SiblingJosephSiblingBenjamin (Rachel's son)SiblingDinah (Jacob's daughter)ChildJemuelChildJaminChildOhadChildJakinChildZoharChildSaul
Key events
The Birth of Simeon
Simeon was born as the second son to Jacob and Leah. Leah named him Simeon, saying, 'Because the Lord heard that I am unloved, he has given me this son also.'
33She conceived again and gave birth to a son, and she said, "Because the LORD heard that I am unloved, he has given me this one too." So she named him Simeon.
וַתַּ֣הַר עוֹד֮ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּן֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֤ע יְהוָה֙ כִּֽי־שְׂנוּאָ֣ה אָנֹ֔כִי וַיִּתֶּן־לִ֖י גַּם־אֶת־זֶ֑ה וַתִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמ֖וֹ שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃
The Revenge on Shechem
After Shechem, the son of Hamor, had dishonored their sister Dinah, Simeon and Levi carried out a bloody act of revenge. They killed all the men in the city while they were weak from circumcision, which aroused strong displeasure in Jacob.
1Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the land.
וַתֵּצֵ֤א דִינָה֙ בַּת־לֵאָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָלְדָ֖ה לְיַעֲקֹ֑ב לִרְא֖וֹת בִּבְנ֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
2And Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of that region, saw her; he seized her, lay with her, and violated her.
וַיַּ֨רְא אֹתָ֜הּ שְׁכֶ֧ם בֶּן־חֲמ֛וֹר הֽ͏ַחִוִּ֖י נְשִׂ֣יא הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּקַּ֥ח אֹתָ֛הּ וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב אֹתָ֖הּ וַיְעַנֶּֽהָ׃
25On the third day, while they were still in pain, two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords, came against the unsuspecting city, and killed every male.
וַיְהִי֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֜י בִּֽהְיוֹתָ֣ם כֹּֽאֲבִ֗ים וַיִּקְח֣וּ שְׁנֵֽי־בְנֵי־יַ֠עֲקֹב שִׁמְע֨וֹן וְלֵוִ֜י אֲחֵ֤י דִינָה֙ אִ֣ישׁ חַרְבּ֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ עַל־הָעִ֖יר בֶּ֑טַח וַיַּֽהַרְג֖וּ כָּל־זָכָֽר׃
26They put Hamor and his son Shechem to the sword, took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and left.
וְאֶת־חֲמוֹר֙ וְאֶת־שְׁכֶ֣ם בְּנ֔וֹ הָרְג֖וּ לְפִי־חָ֑רֶב וַיִּקְח֧וּ אֶת־דִּינָ֛ה מִבֵּ֥ית שְׁכֶ֖ם וַיֵּצֵֽאוּ׃
27Jacob's sons came upon the slain and plundered the city, because its men had defiled their sister.
בְּנֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֗ב בָּ֚אוּ עַל־הַ֣חֲלָלִ֔ים וַיָּבֹ֖זּוּ הָעִ֑יר אֲשֶׁ֥ר טִמְּא֖וּ אֲחוֹתָֽם׃
28They seized the flocks, the herds, the donkeys, and everything else in the city and in the fields.
אֶת־צֹאנָ֥ם וְאֶת־בְּקָרָ֖ם וְאֶת־חֲמֹרֵיהֶ֑[t]ם וְאֵ֧ת אֲשֶׁר־בָּעִ֛יר וְאֶת־אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֖ה לָקָֽחוּ׃
29They took captive all their children and their wives, and carried off all their wealth and everything in the houses.
וְאֶת־כָּל־חֵילָ֤ם וְאֶת־כָּל־טַפָּם֙ וְאֶת־נְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם שָׁב֖וּ וַיָּבֹ֑זּוּ וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּבָּֽיִת׃
30Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought disaster on me by making me a stench to the inhabitants of this land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My men are few; if they band together against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed."
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶל־שִׁמְע֣וֹן וְאֶל־לֵוִי֮ עֲכַרְתֶּ֣ם אֹתִי֒ לְהַבְאִישֵׁ֙נִי֙ בְּיֹשֵׁ֣ב הָאָ֔רֶץ בַּֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י וּבַפְּרִזִּ֑י וַאֲנִי֙ מְתֵ֣י מִסְפָּ֔ר וְנֶאֶסְפ֤וּ עָלַי֙ וְהִכּ֔וּנִי וְנִשְׁמַדְתִּ֖י אֲנִ֥י וּבֵיתִֽי׃
31But they answered, "Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?"
וַיֹּאמְר֑וּ הַכְזוֹנָ֕ה יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֶת־אֲחוֹתֵֽנוּ׃ פ
Simeon Held as Hostage in Egypt
When Jacob's sons came to Egypt to buy grain, Joseph demanded that they bring Benjamin back with them. Joseph kept Simeon behind as a hostage until his brothers returned with Benjamin.
18On the third day Joseph said to them, "Do this and you will live, for I fear God.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֤ם יוֹסֵף֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י זֹ֥את עֲשׂ֖וּ וִֽחְי֑וּ אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֲנִ֥י יָרֵֽא׃
19If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and carry grain back for your starving households.
אִם־כֵּנִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם אֲחִיכֶ֣ם אֶחָ֔ד יֵאָסֵ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית מִשְׁמַרְכֶ֑ם וְאַתֶּם֙ לְכ֣וּ הָבִ֔יאוּ שֶׁ֖בֶר רַעֲב֥וֹן בָּתֵּיכֶֽם׃
20But bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be proved true and you will not die." And they agreed to do so.
וְאֶת־אֲחִיכֶ֤ם הַקָּטֹן֙ תָּבִ֣יאוּ אֵלַ֔י וְיֵאָמְנ֥וּ דִבְרֵיכֶ֖ם וְלֹ֣א תָמ֑וּתוּ וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־כֵֽן׃
24He turned away from them and wept. Then he came back and spoke to them again; and he took Simeon from among them and had him bound before their eyes.
וַיִּסֹּ֥ב מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ וַיָּ֤שָׁב אֲלֵהֶם֙ וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם וַיִּקַּ֤ח מֵֽאִתָּם֙ אֶת־שִׁמְע֔וֹן וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ר אֹת֖וֹ לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃
36Their father Jacob said to them, "You are robbing me of my children. Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. Everything is against me!"
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ יַעֲקֹ֣ב אֲבִיהֶ֔ם אֹתִ֖י שִׁכַּלְתֶּ֑ם יוֹסֵ֤ף אֵינֶ֙[t]נּוּ֙ וְשִׁמְע֣וֹן אֵינֶ֔נּוּ וְאֶת־בִּנְיָמִ֣ן תִּקָּ֔חוּ עָלַ֖י הָי֥וּ כֻלָּֽנָה׃
Simeon's Release
When the brothers returned to Egypt with Benjamin, Simeon was released and reunited with his brothers.
23He replied, "Peace to you. Do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; your silver reached me." Then he brought Simeon out to them.
וַיֹּאמֶר֩ שָׁל֨וֹם לָכֶ֜ם אַל־תִּירָ֗אוּ אֱלֹ֨הֵיכֶ֜ם וֽ͏ֵאלֹהֵ֤י אֲבִיכֶם֙ נָתַ֨ן לָכֶ֤ם מַטְמוֹן֙ בְּאַמְתְּחֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם כַּסְפְּכֶ֖ם בָּ֣א אֵלָ֑י וַיּוֹצֵ֥א אֲלֵהֶ֖ם אֶת־שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃
Jacob's Prophetic Words over Simeon
On his deathbed, Jacob spoke prophetic words over his sons. Simeon and Levi were mentioned together and received a warning that their violent temper would lead to them being scattered in Israel.
5Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence.
שִׁמְע֥וֹן וְלֵוִ֖י אַחִ֑ים כְּלֵ֥י חָמָ֖ס מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶֽם׃
6Let me never enter their council, never join their assembly, for in their anger they killed men, and on a whim they crippled oxen.
בְּסֹדָם֙ אַל־תָּבֹ֣א נַפְשִׁ֔י בִּקְהָלָ֖ם אַל־תֵּחַ֣ד כְּבֹדִ֑י כִּ֤י בְאַפָּם֙ הָ֣רְגוּ אִ֔ישׁ וּבִרְצֹנָ֖ם עִקְּרוּ־שֽׁוֹר׃
7Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel. I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.
אָר֤וּר אַפָּם֙ כִּ֣י עָ֔ז וְעֶבְרָתָ֖ם כִּ֣י קָשָׁ֑תָה אֲחַלְּקֵ֣ם בְּיַעֲקֹ֔ב וַאֲפִיצֵ֖ם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס
The Tribe of Simeon in the Promised Land
The tribe of Simeon received its inheritance within the territory of the tribe of Judah, in accordance with Jacob's prophecy about scattering. The tribe was gradually absorbed into Judah.
1The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of the Simeonites, clan by clan. Their inheritance lay within the inheritance of Judah.
וַיֵּצֵ֞א הַגּוֹרָ֤ל הַשֵּׁנִי֙ לְשִׁמְע֔וֹן לְמַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־שִׁמְע֖וֹן לְמִשְׁפְּחוֹתָ֑ם וַֽיְהִי֙ נַֽחֲלָתָ֔ם בְּת֖וֹךְ נַחֲלַ֥ת בְּנֵֽי־יְהוּדָֽה׃
2Their inheritance included Beersheba, also called Sheba, then Moladah,
וַיְהִ֥י לָהֶ֖ם בְּנַֽחֲלָתָ֑ם בְּאֵֽר־שֶׁ֥בַע וְשֶׁ֖בַע וּמוֹלָדָֽה׃
3Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem,
וַחֲצַ֥ר שׁוּעָ֛ל וּבָלָ֖ה וָעָֽצֶם׃
4Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,
וְאֶלְתּוֹלַ֥ד וּבְת֖וּל וְחָרְמָֽה׃
5Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah,
וְצִֽקְלַ֥ג וּבֵית־הַמַּרְכָּב֖וֹת וַחֲצַ֥ר סוּסָֽה׃
6Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen—thirteen towns with their villages;
וּבֵ֥ית לְבָא֖וֹת וְשָֽׁרוּחֶ֑ן עָרִ֥ים שְׁלֹשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן׃
7Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan—four towns with their villages;
עַ֥יִן ׀ רִמּ֖וֹן וָעֶ֣תֶר וְעָשָׁ֑ן עָרִ֥ים אַרְבַּ֖ע וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן׃
8together with all the villages surrounding these towns as far as Baalath Beer, that is, Ramah of the Negev. This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Simeonites, clan by clan.
וְכָל־הֽ͏ַחֲצֵרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר סְבִיבוֹת֙ הֶֽעָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה עַד־בַּֽעֲלַ֥ת בְּאֵ֖ר רָ֣אמַת נֶ֑גֶב זֹ֗את נַחֲלַ֛ת מַטֵּ֥ה בְנֵֽי־שִׁמְע֖וֹן לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם׃
9The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the territory of Judah, because Judah's share was more than they needed. So the Simeonites received their inheritance within Judah's territory.
מֵחֶ֙בֶל֙ בְּנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה נַחֲלַ֖ת בְּנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֑וֹן כִּֽי־הָיָ֞ה חֵ֤לֶק בְּנֵֽי־יְהוּדָה֙ רַ֣ב מֵהֶ֔ם וַיִּנְחֲל֥וּ בְנֵֽי־שִׁמְע֖וֹן בְּת֥וֹךְ נַחֲלָתָֽם׃ פ