Allusions in

rabbinic literature Rabbinic literature, in its broadest sense, is the entire spectrum of rabbinic writings throughout Jewish history. However, the term often refers specifically to literature from the Talmudic era, as opposed to medieval and modern rabbinic writ ...

to the biblical character

Simeon Simeon () is a given name, from the Hebrew (Biblical ''Šimʿon'', Tiberian ''Šimʿôn''), usually transliterated as Shimon. In Greek it is written Συμεών, hence the Latinized spelling Symeon. Meaning The name is derived from Simeon, so ...

, son of

Jacob Jacob (; ; ar, يَعْقُوب, Yaʿqūb; gr, Ἰακώβ, Iakṓb), later given the name Israel, is regarded as a patriarch of the Israelites and is an important figure in Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. J ...

, contain various expansions, elaborations and inferences beyond what is presented in the text of the Bible itself.

Name

In the Rabbinic literature, Simeon's name is interpreted in a number of different ways.

Genesis Rabbah Genesis Rabbah (Hebrew: , ''B'reshith Rabba'') is a religious text from Judaism's classical period, probably written between 300 and 500 CE with some later additions. It is a midrash comprising a collection of ancient rabbinical homiletical inter ...

takes it to mean "he who listens to the words of God". The

Midrash HaGadol Midrash HaGadol or The Great Midrash (Hebrew: מדרש הגדול) is a work of aggaddic midrash, expanding on the narratives of the Pentateuch, which was written by Rabbi David Adani of Yemen (14th century). Its contents were compiled from the ...

, however, interprets it as "there is sin", and sees in the name an allusion to Zimri, the Simeonite prince who sinned with the Midianite woman.

Incident in Shechem

Genesis Genesis may refer to: Bible * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of mankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Book of ...

34 describes how Simeon and

Levi Levi (; ) was, according to the Book of Genesis, the third of the six sons of Jacob and Leah (Jacob's third son), and the founder of the Israelite Tribe of Levi (the Levites, including the Kohanim) and the great-grandfather of Aaron, Moses and ...

kill the people of

Shechem Shechem ( ), also spelled Sichem ( ; he, שְׁכֶם, ''Šəḵem''; ; grc, Συχέμ, Sykhém; Samaritan Hebrew: , ), was a Canaanite and Israelite city mentioned in the Amarna Letters, later appearing in the Hebrew Bible as the first c ...

. The Sefer haYashar expands on this narrative, and says that when Hamor asked Dinah's hand for his son Shechem, Simeon and Levi, to outwit him, replied that some delay was necessary in order to consult their grandfather

Isaac Isaac; grc, Ἰσαάκ, Isaák; ar, إسحٰق/إسحاق, Isḥāq; am, ይስሐቅ is one of the three patriarchs of the Israelites and an important figure in the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He was th ...

about the matter. After Hamor had gone it was Simeon who advised his brothers to require all the men of Shechem to be circumcised, and by this means place them at their mercy. The Sefer haYashar also has Simeon marrying his sister, Dinah. The Sefer haYashar also presents Simeon as having a particularly powerful voice, and says that once, in the brunt of a battle, when he shouted, the enemy fled in terror at the sound.

Relationship with Joseph

Among

Joseph Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...

's brothers, Simeon was considered his most bitter antagonist. According to Sefer haYashar, it was Simeon who said: "Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him" (Genesis 38:19-20). The Rabbis also held that it was Simeon who cast Joseph into the pit, and that afterwards he ordered that stones be thrown into it.

Rabbinic literature Rabbinic literature, in its broadest sense, is the entire spectrum of rabbinic writings throughout Jewish history. However, the term often refers specifically to literature from the Talmudic era, as opposed to medieval and modern rabbinic writ ...

gives two reasons why Joseph chose Simeon, and not another brother, as a hostage (Genesis 42:24). First, Joseph desired to punish Simeon for having thrown him into the pit. Secondly, Joseph wished to separate Simeon from

, lest they together might destroy Egypt as they had destroyed Shechem. According to Sefer haYashar, Simeon naturally was unwilling to go to prison; and when, at Joseph's call, seventy mighty Egyptians approached to take him by force, he uttered a cry so terrible that they became frightened and ran away. It was

Manasseh Manasseh () is both a given name and a surname. Its variants include Manasses and Manasse. Notable people with the name include: Surname * Ezekiel Saleh Manasseh (died 1944), Singaporean rice and opium merchant and hotelier * Jacob Manasseh (die ...

, Joseph's son, who subdued Simeon and led him to prison.

Death

According to the

Seder Olam Zutta Seder Olam Zutta (Hebrew: ) is an anonymous chronicle from 803 CE, called "Zuta" (= "smaller," or "younger") to distinguish it from the older ''Seder Olam Rabbah.'' This work is based upon, and to a certain extent completes and continues, the olde ...

, Simeon died at the age of 120, seventy-five years after Jacob and his children went to Egypt, and hence three years before Reuben's death. It is said that the remains of all the Patriarchs were enclosed in coffins and taken to the land of Canaan by the Israelites at the time of the Exodus.

100:12

References

{{Jewish Encyclopedia, url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?letter=S&artid=727, article=Simeon Biblical figures in rabbinic literature Tribe of Simeon