Simeon

Hearing. (1.) The second son of Jacob by Leah (Gen. 29:33). He was associated with Levi in the terrible act of vengeance against Hamor and the Shechemites (34:25, 26). He was detained by Joseph in Egypt as a hostage (42:24). His father, when dying, pronounced a malediction against him (49:5-7). The words in the Authorized Version (49:6), “they digged down a wall,” ought to be, as correctly rendered in the Revised Version, “they houghed an ox.” (2.) An aged saint who visited the temple when Jesus was being presented before the Lord, and uttered lofty words of thankgiving and of prophecy (Luke 2:29-35). (3.) One of the ancestors of Joseph (Luke 3:30). (4.) Surnamed Niger, i.e., “black,” perhaps from his dark complexion, a teacher of some distinction in the church of Antioch (Acts 13:1-3). It has been supposed that this was the Simon of Cyrene who bore Christ’s cross. Note the number of nationalities represented in the church at Antioch. (5.) James (Acts 15:14) thus designates the apostle Peter (q.v.).

(heard).

SIM'EON (a hearing). Son of Jacob and Leah. Gen 29:33. According to the prediction of Jacob, Gen 49:5-7, and as a punishment for his offence in the matter of the Shechemites, Gen 34 (see Dinah), his posterity dwindled, comp. Num 1:22-23; Gen 26:14, and their inheritance was only a dismembered portion of the territory of Judah. Josh 19:1. A man of singular piety residing at Jerusalem. Luke 2:25. He had been favored with a divine intimation that he should live to see the incarnate Redeemer, the Lord's Christ, and, being led by the Spirit into the temple at the particular time when the infant Jesus was brought thither by his parents, according to the requirement of the Law, Ex 13:12; Ex 22:29 he took him up in his arms and uttered the most devout thanksgivings to God, accompanied with a remarkable prediction respecting the various effects of his advent. A man of this name was among the prophets and teachers of the Christian church at Antioch. Acts 13:1. Some have supposed (though without warrant) that he is the same with Simon the Cyrenian. Matt 27:32. "Simeon" is a Hebrew name, and in Acts 15:14 is the same with "Simon." A name in our Lord's genealogy. Luke 3:30.

that hears or obeys; that is heard

SIM'EON, THE TERRITORY OF, the south-western portion of the Promised Land. The district assigned to Simeon lay within the inheritance of Judah, and included eighteen cities in the South of Palestine around the well of Beer-sheba. Josh 19:1-9; 1 Chr 4:28-33. On its entrance to the Promised Land, Simeon was the smallest of all the tribes, having at that time only 22,200 able-bodied men. Num 26:14. At a later date some of the towns within its territory were possessed by Judah, as Hormah and Beer-sheba, while Ziklag became a Philistine, and then a Judaean, town. 1 Sam 27:6; 1 Sam 30:30; 1 Kgs 19:3. After the division of the kingdom the territory of this tribe appears to have been subject to many changes, as the population was partly in fellowship with the northern kingdom, though it seems to have shared in the reformation under Asa and Josiah. 2 Chr 15:9; 2 Chr 34:6.