Difference between revisions of "Simeon"

<p> '''SIMON.''' </p> <p> '''1.''' (See [[Levi]] .) Jacob's second son by Leah, &nbsp;Genesis 29:33. From '''''Shaama''''' , "hear"; as the birth of [[Reuben]] ("see a son") her firstborn convinced [[Leah]] that God saw her, so that of [[Simeon]] that God heard her. Levi's and Simeon's slaughter of the [[Shechemites]] (&nbsp;Genesis 34:25; &nbsp;Genesis 34:30) incurred Jacob's reproof (&nbsp;Genesis 49:5-7). Judah and Simeon joined together in the conquest of southern [[Canaan]] (&nbsp;Judges 1:3; &nbsp;Judges 1:17). Joseph's selection of Simeon as hostage for Benjamin's appearance was perhaps due to his having been a leader in the brothers' cruel attack (Genesis 37; &nbsp;Genesis 42:24). Simeon's families are enumerated (&nbsp;Genesis 46:10; &nbsp;Numbers 26:12-14; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 4:24-43). At the census at [[Sinai]] Simeon numbered 59,300 (&nbsp;Numbers 1:23); it was then the most numerous after Judah and Daniel At [[Shittim]] it had become the smallest, numbering 22,200. The mortality consequent on the idolatry of [[Peor]] was a leading cause (&nbsp;Numbers 25:9; &nbsp;Numbers 25:14). </p> <p> Zimri, slain in the act, was a prince of Simeon (&nbsp;Numbers 26:14). Simeon was doomed by Jacob to be "scattered in Israel" (&nbsp;Genesis 49:7); its sins caused its reduction to such small numbers as found adequate territory within Judah (&nbsp;Joshua 19:2-9). Simeon was the "remnant" with Judah and Benjamin, which constituted Rehoboam's forces (&nbsp;1 Kings 12:23). Still Simeon remained strong enough in Hezekiah's days to smite the men of [[Ham]] with an expedition under 13 [[Simeonite]] princes, and to occupy their dwellings "at the entrance of ''(Rather, As Keil, "Westward From")'' [[Gedor]] to the E. side of the valley" (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 4:34-43). The [[Simeonites]] "found the '''''Μeunim''''' " ''(Not As Kjv, '' &nbsp;1 Chronicles 4:41 '', "Habitations")'' there besides the [[Hamites]] ''(Whether Egyptians, Cushites, Or Canaanites)'' . (See [[Maon]] .) </p> <p> The '''''Μeunim''''' were connected with '''''Μaan''''' , a city near Petra, E. of '''''Wady Μusa''''' , "nomads". Five hundred Simeonites undertook a second expedition under four chiefs, sons of Shimei, against the remnant of [[Amalek]] that had escaped from Saul and David (&nbsp;1 Samuel 14:48; &nbsp;1 Samuel 15:7; &nbsp;2 Samuel 8:12) to the mountains of Idumea; they smote them utterly, and dwelt in their place, and were there at the date of the composition of 1 Chronicles, i.e. after the return from Babylon. Simeon is omitted in Moses' blessing, possibly because of the idolatry of Peor. Simeon in the wilderness marched south of the tabernacle, with Reuben and Gad, sons of Zilpah, maid of Leah, Simeon's mother. The Canaanitess mother of [[Shaul]] (&nbsp;Genesis 46:10) and the [[Horite]] father of [[Shaphat]] the spy from Simeon (&nbsp;Numbers 13:5) indicate the laxness of Simeon in marriage connections, from whence sprang his paganish degeneracy. </p> <p> Their villages and 18 or 19 cities lay round the well [[Beersheba]] in Judah's extreme south. Simeon stands first of the tribes appointed to bless the people on Mount [[Gerizim]] (&nbsp;Deuteronomy 27:12). Though cities of Simeon were among those to which David sent presents of the [[Amalekite]] spoils, and though [[Ziklag]] was David's own property, received from [[Achish]] king of the [[Philistines]] who had wrested it from Simeon (&nbsp;1 Samuel 27:6; &nbsp;1 Samuel 30:26, etc.), yet Simeon and Judah were few in numbers at his installation at [[Hebron]] (&nbsp;1 Chronicles 12:23-37), and Simeon more than Judah. Some men of Simeon were apparently settled in the northern kingdom of [[Israel]] after the disruption (&nbsp;2 Chronicles 15:9; &nbsp;2 Chronicles 34:6). Simeon is between [[Issachar]] and Benjamin, not beside Judah, in &nbsp;Ezekiel 48:25. Simeon is also in &nbsp;Revelation 7:7. </p> <p> '''2.''' &nbsp;Luke 3:30. </p> <p> '''3.''' [[Simon Peter]] . The [[Hebrew]] form of the Greek Simon used by James; the most Hebraistic of the twelve (&nbsp;Acts 15:14). Sinaiticus and Alexandrinus manuscripts read "Symeon" (&nbsp;2 Peter 1:1), but Vaticanus "Simon." His mentioning his original name accords with his design in 2 Peter, to warn against coming false teachers (2 Peter 2) by setting forth the true "knowledge" of Christ on the testimony of the original apostolic eye witnesses like himself. This was not required in 1 Peter. </p> <p> '''4.''' &nbsp;Luke 2:25-32. "Just and devout, waiting ''(Like The [[Dying]] Jacob, '' &nbsp;Genesis 49:18 '')'' for the consolation of Israel" ''(Promised In Isaiah 40)'' , and having upon him "the [[Holy]] Spirit," who "revealed that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ." When Jesus' parents brought Him into the temple to redeem Him as the firstborn with five shekels according to the law (&nbsp;Numbers 18:15), and to present Him to the Lord, Simeon took Him up in his arms, and blessing God said, "Lord, now Thou dost let [[Thy]] servant depart in peace ''(Not A Prayer, But A Thanksgiving; Again Like Jacob, '' &nbsp;Genesis 46:30 '')'' ; for mine eyes ''(Not Another, '' &nbsp;Job 19:27 '')'' have seen (&nbsp;1 John 1:1) Thy (&nbsp;Isaiah 28:16; &nbsp;Luke 3:6) salvation: which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people ''(The Universality Of The Gospel)'' : a light to lighten the [[Gentiles]] (&nbsp;Isaiah 9:2), and ''(Not Only Light, But Also)'' the glory of Thy people Israel" (&nbsp;Isaiah 60:1-3). </p> <p> He is mentioned so vaguely, "a man in Jerusalem," that Lightfoot's view is hardly correct that he was president of the [[Sanhedrin]] and father of [[Gamaliel]] (&nbsp;Acts 5:34-40) who took so mild a view of Christianity, and that because of his religious opinions Simeon is not mentioned in the Mishna. Rabban Simeon's grandfather was of the family of David; he succeeded his father [[Hillel]] as president, A.D. 13; at the feet of his son Gamaliel Paul was brought up. But the Simeon of Luke 2 would scarcely have trained his son a Pharisee; Simeon was a common name. Christ's advent brings to view some of His hidden ones, as Simeon and Anna, who, unknown to the world, were known to Him as yearning for Him. </p> <p> '''5.''' Brother, i.e. cousin, of Jesus (&nbsp;Matthew 13:55; &nbsp;Mark 6:3). Probably the apostle Simeon Zelotes, "the zealot" (&nbsp;Luke 6:15; &nbsp;Acts 1:13) for the honour of the law and the [[Israelite]] theocracy. Called "the Canaanite" ''(Not The Nation, But '' '''''Κananaios''''' '', In [[Chaldee]] Equivalent To The Greek '' '''''Ζeelotees''''' ''; "Zealot," '' &nbsp;Matthew 10:4 ''; '' &nbsp;Mark 3:18 '')'' . Tenth among the twelve in Luke, but eleventh in Matthew and Mark. [[Eusebius]] from [[Hegesippus]] makes Simeon son of [[Clopas]] to succeed James in the bishopric of the [[Jerusalem]] church which was removed to Pella. He was martyred in his 120th year, under Trajan, A.D. 107, as David's descendant who might claim the throne and give trouble to the Romans. </p> <p> '''6.''' Father of [[Judas]] [[Iscariot]] (&nbsp;John 6:71; &nbsp;John 12:4; &nbsp;John 13:2; &nbsp;John 13:26). </p> <p> '''7.''' "The leper," cleansed probably by Jesus. In his house at [[Bethany]] Mary anointed the Lord's feet (&nbsp;Matthew 26:6, etc.; &nbsp;Mark 14:3). He was probably father of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus; perhaps for a time he was away through leprosy, so that he is not named in &nbsp;Luke 10:38 where the house is called Martha's house, nor John 11, but in &nbsp;Mark 14:3. (See [[Lazarus]] .) </p> <p> '''8.''' "The Pharisee" in whose house the sinful, but forgiven, woman anointed Jesus' feet. Uncharitableness, ignorance, and pride prompted his thought, "this man, if He were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth Him, for she is a sinner." Christ shinned His own knowledge by answering Simon's unexpressed thought; His holiness, by not only being undefiled by her touch, but also sanctifying her by His touch; His judicial power, as One more than "a prophet," by justifying her and condemning him (&nbsp;Luke 7:36-50; &nbsp;Luke 18:9-14). By the parable of the debtor forgiven 500 pence loving the creditor more than the one forgiven only 50, Christ showed that her warm and demonstrative love flowed from consciousness of forgiveness, his want of love from his fancy that he needed but little God's forgiveness. Where little or no love is shown, little or no sense of forgiveness ''(Which [[Answers]] To Her "Faith," '' &nbsp;Luke 7:50 '')'' exists to prompt it. Her sins, though many, were forgiven, not on account of her love, but as the moving cause of her love; the "for" in &nbsp;Luke 7:47 is evidential, her much love evidenced her much forgiveness and much sense of it. </p> <p> '''9.''' Of Cyrene; attending the [[Passover]] "from the country, father of [[Alexander]] and Rufus" ''(Known To Roman Christians, '' &nbsp;Romans 16:13 '', For Whom Mark Wrote)'' ; impressed to bear after Christ the cross to Golgotha, when the Lord Himself had sunk under it (&nbsp;John 19:17; &nbsp;Mark 15:21; &nbsp;Luke 23:26). An honourable ignominy. </p> <p> '''10.''' [[Simon The Tanner]] with whom Simon lodged at [[Joppa]] (&nbsp;Acts 9:43; &nbsp;Acts 10:6; &nbsp;Acts 10:32). As rigid [[Jews]] regarded the business as unclean, Peter's lodging there shows already a relaxation of Judaism. His house was near the seaside for the convenience of the water. By the Sultan's order the old walls of Jaffa ("Joppa") have been lately removed. In cutting a gate through a water battery at an angle of the sea wall built by Vespasian, and directly in front of the reputed house of Simon the tanner on the rocky bluff above, the men came on three oval shaped tanner vats hewn out of the natural rock and lined with Roman cement, down near the sea, and similar to those in use 18 centuries ago. Probably no more than one tanner would be living in so small a place as Joppa; so that the tradition is confirmed that here was the house of Simon with whom Peter lodged when he received the call of Cornelius. </p> <p> '''11.''' Simeon Magus. The [[Samaritan]] who practiced magic, "bewitching the people of Samaria, giving out that he himself was some great one," so that all said "this is the power of God which is called great" ''(So The Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, And Alexandrinus Manuscripts)'' . Born at the Samaritan village ''(Gittim, According To Justin Martyr)'' , Simeon was converted nominally and baptized through [[Philip]] at [[Sichem]] or Sychar, where Christ's ministry (John 4) had already prepared the way. [[Josephus]] (Ant. 20:7, section 2) records that Simeon was Felix' tool to seduce [[Drusilla]] away from her husband Azizus, king of Emesa. The Pseudo [[Clemens]] represents him as disciple, then successor, of [[Dositheus]] the gnostic heresiarch. </p> <p> The Recognitiones and Clementina report fabulous controversies between Simeon and Peter. His followers report his saying "I am the word of God, the '''''Paraclete''''' , omnipotent," in fact the incarnation of the word (the Logos, [[Philo]] and &nbsp;John 1:1). Simeon, viewing baptism as the initiation into communion with some powerful spirit through whom he could do greater wonders than before, was baptized. His case shows that the apostles could not always infallibly read motives, and that the grace symbolized in baptism is not indifferently conferred on all as Romanists teach giving sacraments a magic power as if they could profit without faith. Simeon, subsequently seeing extraordinary powers of the Holy Spirit conferred through laying on of Peter's and John's hands on those already baptized, and supposing that their bestowal was by the outward act independently of the inward disposition, desired to buy the power of conferring such gifts ''(From [[Whence]] Comes Our Term "Simony")'' ; evidently Simeon himself had not received the gifts, not having yet presented himself. </p> <p> Peter said "thy money perish with thee" (&nbsp;1 Corinthians 6:13; &nbsp;Colossians 2:22), undesignedly in coincidence with Peter's language in the independent epistle (&nbsp;1 Peter 1:7); so "thou hast neither part, nor lot," etc.; compare &nbsp;1 Peter 1:4 "inheritance," literally, lot ( '''''Kleeros''''' ); "thy heart is not right ''(In [[Motives]] And Ends)'' in the sight of God; repent ... if perhaps the thought ... may be forgiven," implying his sin verged toward the unpardonable one (&nbsp;Matthew 12:31). God, not the apostles, in Peter's view could absolve; compare &nbsp;John 20:23. "For I perceive thou art in the gall," etc. (&nbsp;Hebrews 12:15). Simeon in his prayer, "pray that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me," shows that fear of punishment, not hatred of sin, influenced him as [[Pharaoh]] (&nbsp;Exodus 8:8). </p>

<p> 1. One of the twelve patriarches, the son of Jacob and Leah, &nbsp;Genesis 29:33 &nbsp; Exodus 6:15 . Some have thought he was more guilty than his brethren in the treatment of Joseph, &nbsp;Genesis 37:20 &nbsp; 42:24 &nbsp; 43:23; but he may have been detained as a hostage because he was one of the eldest sons. The tribes of Simeon and Levi were scattered and dispersed in Israel, in conformity with the prediction of Jacob, on account of their sacrilegious and piratical revenge of the outrage committed against Dinah their sister, &nbsp;Genesis 34:1-31 &nbsp; 49:5 . Levi had no compact lot or portion in the Holy Land; and Simeon received for his portion only a district dismembered from Judah, with some other lands the tribe overran in the mountains of Seir, and in the desert of Gedor, &nbsp;1 Chronicles 4:24,39,42 . The portion of Simeon was west and south or that of Judah, having the Philistines on the northwest and the desert on the south, &nbsp;Joshua 19:1-9 . </p> <p> The tribe was reduced in numbers while in the wilderness, from 59,300 to 24,000, &nbsp;Numbers 1:23 &nbsp; 26:14; very probably on account of sharing in the licentious idolatry of Moab, with [[Zimri]] their prince, &nbsp;Numbers 25:1-18 , or for other sins. They are little known in subsequent history. We find them faithful to David, &nbsp;1 Chronicles 12:25 , and afterwards to Asa, &nbsp;2 Chronicles 15:9 , and in general absorbed by Judah. Moses omits this tribe in his dying benedictions, &nbsp;Deuteronomy 33:1-29; but its place in Israel is restored by a covenant-keeping God, &nbsp;Ezekiel 48:24 &nbsp; Revelation 7:7 . </p> <p> 2. A venerable saint at Jerusalem, full of the Holy Spirit, who was expecting the redemption of Israel, &nbsp;Luke 2:25-35 . It had been revealed to him that he should not die before he had seen the Christ so long promised; and he therefore came into the temple, promoted by inspiration, just at the time when [[Joseph]] and Mary presented our [[Savior]] there, in obedience to the law. Simeon took the child in his arms, gave thanks to God, and blessed Joseph and Mary. We know nothing further concerning him. </p> <p> 3. [[Surnamed]] [[Niger]] or the Black, &nbsp;Acts 13:1 , was among the prophets and teachers of the [[Christian]] church at Antioch. Some think he was Simon the Cyrenian; but there is no proof of this. </p> <p> 4. The apostle Peter is also called Simeon in &nbsp;Acts 15:14 , but elsewhere Simon. </p>

<p> [[Simeon]] ( ''Sĭm'E-On'' ), ''A Hearkening.'' 1. The second son of Jacob, born of Leah. &nbsp;Genesis 29:33. He participated in the revenge of Levi against the Shechemites for the outrage upon Dinah. &nbsp;Genesis 34:25; &nbsp;Genesis 34:30; &nbsp;Genesis 49:5-7. Before entering Canaan, the tribe of Simeon had become the lowest of the tribes in point of number. &nbsp;Numbers 1:23; &nbsp;Numbers 26:14. To the Simeonites was assigned the territory in the southwest, with a number of towns, which had been allotted to Judah. &nbsp;Joshua 19:1-9. An emigration from this tribe took place, at an early period, towards Gedor, and afterwards to Mount Seir. &nbsp;1 Chronicles 4:24-43; &nbsp;Ezekiel 48:24; &nbsp;Revelation 7:7. 2. One of the ancestors of Mary, &nbsp;Luke 3:30, A. V., but R. V. reads "Symeon." 3. An aged godly Jew residing at Jerusalem, who had been favored with a divine intimation that he should live to see the Lord's Christ. And being led by the Spirit, at the time when Jesus was presented by his mother at the temple, he recognized the infant as the expected Messiah, and took him in his arms and blessed him, glorifying God. &nbsp;Luke 2:25-35. 4. A Christian teacher at Antioch, surnamed Niger (black).evidently from his dark complexion. &nbsp;Acts 13:1, R. V. "Symeon." </p>

&nbsp;Genesis 29:33&nbsp;Genesis 34:25-31&nbsp;Genesis 42:24[[Jacob]] <p> 2. A devout Jew who lived in Jerusalem during the time of Jesus' birth. He was seeking the fulfillment of messianic prophecy when Israel would be restored (&nbsp;Luke 2:25 ). God promised Simeon that he would not die before seeing the Christ. When Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the Temple for the purification rites, Simeon announced to them God's plan for the boy (&nbsp;Luke 2:34 ). </p> <p> 3. Ancestor of Jesus (&nbsp;Luke 3:30 ). &nbsp;4 . [[Prophet]] and teacher in church at Antioch (&nbsp;Acts 13:1 ). &nbsp;5 . Alternate form in Greek for Simon, original Greek name of Peter. See [[Peter]]; Simon . </p>

<li> James (&nbsp;Acts 15:14 ) thus designates the apostle Peter (q.v.). <div> <p> '''Copyright Statement''' These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton [[M.A., DD]]  Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by [[Thomas]] Nelson, 1897. Public Domain. </p> <p> '''Bibliography Information''' Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Simeon'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/s/simeon.html. 1897. </p> </div> </li>