Dict: easton - Simeon

easton:

Simeon @ hearing.

(1.) The second son of Jacob by Leah kjv@Genesis: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 kjv@Luke:2:29-35).

(3.) One of the ancestors of Joseph kjv@Luke:3:30).

(4.) Surnamed Niger, i.e., "black," perhaps from his dark complexion, a teacher of some distinction in the church of Antioch kjv@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 kjv@Acts:15:14) thus designates the apostle Peter (q.v.).

Simeon, The tribe of @ was "divided and scattered" according to the prediction in kjv@Genesis:49:5-7. They gradually dwindled in number, and sank into a position of insignificance among the other tribes. They decreased in the wilderness by about two-thirds (comp. kjv@Numbers:1:23 kjv@Numbers:26:14). Moses pronounces no blessing on this tribe. It is passed by in silence Deuteronomy:33). This tribe received as their portion a part of the territory already allotted to Judah kjv@Joshua:19:1-9). It lay in the south-west of the land, with Judah on the east and Dan on the north; but whether it was a compact territory or not cannot be determined. The subsequent notices of this tribe are but few ( kjv@1Chronicles:4:24-43). Like Reuben on the east of Jordan, this tribe had little influence on the history of Israel.