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''' Simeon''' was the second son of [[Jacob]] and [[Leah]] and the founder of the [[Tribe of Simeon]], one of the [[Twelve tribes of Israel]], as recounted in the book of [[Genesis]] in the [[Bible]]. Jacob's "blessing" on his second born son denounced him for killing in anger and said his descendants would be scattered in the nation of [[Israel]]. (Gen 49:5-7)

'''Simeon''' ([[Hebrew]]: '''שׁמעון''', ''Shim'on'', "God has heard"), (b. 2247 AM or 1757 BC), was the second son of [[Jacob]] and [[Leah]], and the ancestor of the Tribe of [[Simeon (tribe)|Simeon]], one of the [[Twelve Tribes of Israel]].

 

 

In 2272 AM (1732 BC), his sister Dinah strayed from camp near the city of Shalem, in the region of [[Shechem]]. ({{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=33|verses=18|version=KJV}}) The local prince (also named Shechem) saw her and took her by force. Afterward, the prince was in love with Dinah and asked his father, King Hamor, to negotiate a marriage between him and Dinah.

 

Hamor approached [[Jacob]] and suggested a treaty involving mutual intermarriage. Jacob's sons said that they would accept this, on condition that all the men of the city [[circumcision|circumcise]] themselves. King Hamor agreed to this.

 

Three days later, Simeon and [[Levi]] carried out their actual plan: they attacked the city by night, when the men of the city were still sore from the circumcisions, and killed the men, including Hamor and Shechem. They also took Dinah out of the prince's house and brought her back to camp. They returned with their brothers to plunder the city, capturing wealth, flocks, herds, women & children, and anything else of value.

 

In 2276 AM (on or about 1728 BC), Simeon participated in the plot to sell his brother [[Joseph]] into slavery. Twenty years later, he found himself in an [[Egypt]]ian prison.

 

In 2296 AM (1708 BC), famine had struck all the Middle East. Jacob, hearing that grain could be had in Egypt, sent all his sons to Egypt to buy grain. ([[Benjamin]] did not go on this first trip.) There they met the [[viceroy]] of Egypt, who accused them of spying. At first the viceroy confined them all, but later the viceroy kept Simeon only in prison and sent the rest back to [[Canaan (land)|Canaan]] with strict instructions to come again with Benjamin.

 

Eventually the brothers came again, and Simeon was released. Later, however, all the brothers were arrested, when the viceroy accused them of stealing a [[silver]] cup from his house. The cup was indeed found in the possession of Benjamin. Judah then made a heartfelt plea to the viceroy that he take Judah in Benjamin's place.

 

The viceroy then shocked all the brothers by revealing that he was none other than their lost brother Joseph. Joseph went on to extend his personal invitation, on behalf of the [[Pharaoh]], to Jacob and all his household to move to Egypt.

 

In [[Entry into Egypt::2298b AM|2298 AM]], Simeon, together with his father, entered Egypt. He was about 51 years old at the time and had six sons: [[Jemuel]], [[Jamin]], [[Ohad]], [[Jachin]], [[Zohar]], and [[Shaul]]. The last son was his son by a [[Canaan]]itish wife.

 

* [[James Ussher]], ''[[The Annals of the World]]'', pghh. 119, 129, 135-40.

 

 

[[Category:Book of Genesis Persons]]

[[Category:Book of Genesis Persons]]

[[Category:Jewish People]]

[[Category:Jewish People]]