by Yair Davidiy
Simeon
"And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman" Genesis 46; 10.
The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemueli: of Jamin, the family of the Jamini: of Jachin the family of the Jachini. "Of Zerah, the family of Zarhi: of Shaul, the family of the Shauli" Numbers 26; 12-13.
THE TRIBE OF SIMEON
For additonal information on Simeon
See also:
Ireland and Wales
The sons of Simeon were Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul (1-Chronicles
4:24). From the time of Joshua and the Judges, Simeon was encompassed
by Judah (Joshua 19:1, 9 Judges 3:1). King Saul apparently tried
to separate Simeon out of Judah. In Sauls time (and later in the time of
King Hezekiah) a portion of Simeon moved east of the Jordan and conquered
lands of the Hamites and of the Edomites and settled there- 1-Chronicles
4:38-43:And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.
And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for they of Ham had dwelt there of old.
And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and smote their tents, and the habitations that were found there, and destroyed them utterly unto this day, and dwelt in their rooms; because there was pasture there for their flocks.
And some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to Mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.
And they smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped, and dwelt there unto this day (1-Chronicles 4:39-43)...
The lands mentioned above that Simeon settled were east of the Jordan. The Simeonite dwellers of these areas would have been taken away by the Assyrians. Another part of Simeon dwelt to the west of the Jordan River and to the south of Judah. The Northern Kingdom of Israel had had an unclear sovereignty somehow over part of the area south of Judah -apparently over Simeon. There are hints in the Bible concerning this and some archaeological evidence: In the Tribal Region of Simeon south of Judah, for instance, an inscription and illustration from Ancient Israelite times has been found. It depicts and mentions Yahwah of Samaria and his Asherah. Samaria was one of the capitals of northern Israel and possibly its most important city. "Samaria" is a term applied to the Northern Kingdom of Israel in general in the same way as "Jerusalem" is sometimes used to represent all of Judah.
The inscription therefore suggests the type of Northern Israelite religious practices in the Simeon area. These practices in those times would have been connected with some degree of political domination. Even though the other Tribes were to the north of Judah whereas Simeon was in Judah's southern region the Tribe of Simeon was counted amongst the Lost Ten Tribes. Simeon is spoken of as having shared the fate of the Lost Ten Tribes who were exiled:"And so he did in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their ruins [Hebrew: "Charvotayhem"] round about" (2-Chronicles 34:6).
The Bible relates that the Assyrians after having attacked, conquered, destroyed and exiled all of the northern Lost Tribes also attacked the territory of Judah:"Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah and took them" (2-Kings 18:13),.
In an inscription Sennacherib speaks of capturing forty-six fenced cities and of carrying away to Assyria 200,150 people from the region of Judah. There are verses that suggest only a remnant escaped the Assyrian Captivity (2-Kings 19;30). Jewish tradition relates that due to Sennacherib capturing "all the fenced cities" a large portion of the Kingdom of "Judah" including most of Simeon also went into the Assyrian exile. These were lost together with the northern Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. . The sources emphasize that those lost to Judah encompassed the overwhelming majority of the people of Simeon. On the other hand those who DID REMAIN belonged mostly to Judah, Benjamin, and Levi. In Biblical terminology it appears that the term "Judah" is always applied to those of Judah and the other Tribes who remained "Jewish" in the religious sense.
Some Jewish sources say that all of Simeon was taken away in Assyrian times. Nevertheless, it should be emphasized that in Jewish tradition it is generally accepted that many from Simeon remained with Judah and are to be found amongst the present-day Jews. It may be accepted that all of the different traditions have some truth to them and that most of Simeon indeed were exiled and are to be counted as amongst the Lost Ten Tribes. One Midrash says that Sennacherib in taking away all the unfenced cities took all of Simeon; another source says that in Assyrian times the King of Cush(?) took Simeon away. Cushcould mean Ethiopia or another part of Africa but the name was also applied to a region of Elam in Persia as well as to the area east of the Caspian Sea. This last possibility is the one accepted by us in accordance with other evidence.
The TRIBE OF JUDAH in Israel enveloped much of Simeon many of whose people became absorbed in Judah. SIMEON has a name derivations of which were applied to Celtic ethnic groups. The SIMENI (Ptolemy) were on the east coast of Britain, the Welsh are called Semoni (Poole p.200) in Welsh and Irish Literature, and the Fir Bolg who, in Irish Mythology, settled in Ireland and Britain had Semuen son of Isru (i.e. "Israel") as their ancestor (D'A p.89ff). The Samnetes (of Simeon) were in French Brittany (Ptolemy). This area of France had cultural contacts with Wales and had been settled in part by Celtic settlers from Britain. In Celtic Britain, according to Ptolemy the SIMENI were bordered by the Iduma River that is similarly named to Idumea or Edom part of whose lands had been conquered by the Tribe of Simeon in the Land of Israel (1-Chronicles 4; 42-43). South of the British Iduma River were the ICENI (Ikeni) people whose name resembles that of Jachin (Numbers 26; 12) son of Simeon. In Phoenician-Hebrew "Yachin" would have been rendered something like "ICEN". Yachin is also recalled in the Euchatae recorded in Pliny (6; 50) as beyond the Jaxartes River east of the Caspian. Pliny recorded similarly named groups such as the Auchatae (6; 22) on the Lower Don and the Auchetae (4; 22) in the northwest close to the Baltic. Euchatae, Auchatae, and Auchetae are all considered different sections of the one people (Khazanov p.52) and their trend of direction seems to be from east to west. In the region of the Euchatae east of the Caspian were the Zaratae (from Zerah son of Simeon) and the Samnitae of Simeon.
The Euchatae themselves descended from Yachin of Simeon. Within this area popular Jewish tradition said that part of the Tribe of Simeon had settled together with other tribes and from here came a section of Khazars who were also believed to be descended from Simeon and Menasseh (Eldad HaDani). The Euchatae are the same as the "EUCAE" ( CHI vol. 2 p.482) who, together with other peoples from SAKAE ( CHI vol. 2 p.482) areas, were admitted to the Macedonian elite unit, "The Companion Guard" of Alexander the Great. The Anglo-Saxons had a tradition (Widukind quoted in Feral p.180, Borchardt) of having served in Alexander's forces and the Eucae of Scythia equate the "Saxons EUCI" (Priebsch p.43) who were reported in North Europe in about 540 c.e. Pliny N.H. 6;19 himself mentions the Euchatae of Scythia being called SAKA (which name is the source for "Saxon") though he says their original name (along with that of the other Scyths) was ARAMI which means SYRIAN. The Hecani clan amongst the Anglo-Saxons also came from Yachin.
In Europe the Semnones (cf. Simeon) were a section of Suebi to whom the Angli were federated. Semnones (Ptolemy) bordered Laccobardi (Lombards), Angles, and Viruni (Warings). The Lombards in Scandinavian Literature have been identified as the HEADOBARDS of old (Arnold p.215, Malone p.158) whose name is reminiscent to that of "OHAD" (Genesis 26;10), Son of Simeon.
Of the other sons of Simeon, Yamin perhaps became the YOM Vikings of Scandinavia; Shaul became the Silures of south Wales, a fierce darkish people according to descriptions; and Namuel became the Nemeti who adjoined the Vangiones on the Rhine. According to the Jewish historian, Graetz, the first Jewish community in Germany derived from descendants of Vangione mercenaries in the Roman army and captured Jewish maidens.
The national color of Simeon in Rabbinical tradition (Num. Rab 2;7) was green× and green is the national color of Ireland and along with white forms the background of the Welsh flag. In both Ireland and Wales the "Celtic" element contains a significant Simeon-portion. Simeon was found in Semuen, in the Semoni, Simeni, and Samnetes which names were all those of major groups amongst the Celts of Ireland, Wales, Britain, and Gaul. In addition, on the Continent prior to the Anglo-Saxon invasions, the Semnones (of Simeon) were a portion of the Suebi and belonged to the same group, says Tacitus, as the Angles. Yachin, son of Simeon, fathered the ICENI in Celtic Britain and the Eucae amongst the Saxons. Zerah son of Simeon had neighbored (as "Zaratae") the Samnitae (of Simeon) in Scythia northeast of the Caspian. South of the Samnitae and Zaratae in Scythia were the Namastae descendants of Nemuel son of Simeon (Numbers 26;12 Nemuel is called Jemuel in Genesis 46;10). Other sons of Simeon were Jamin (the Yom-Vikings), Ohad (the Headobards-Lombards) and Shaul (the Silures of Wales). Judah had assimilated a good portion of Simeon and their descendants are to be found amongst the modern-day Jews. In Rabbinical tradition descendants of Simeon were prominent amongst schoolteachers, scribes, and indigents. They were considered quick-tempered, strict of nature and to a degree prone to violence.
We came to the conclusion that Simeon was dominant amongst the southern Irish who however also historically had included elements from Ephraim, Dan, Manasseh, Judah, and others. [Genesis 49:5] SIMEON AND LEVI ARE BRETHREN; INSTRUMENTS OF CRUELTY ARE IN THEIR HABITATIONS. INSTRUMENTS OF CRUELTY in Hebrew clei chamas i.e. tools of violence
Micorotayhem can also mean "means of livelihood" i.e. "tools of violence are their means of livelihood"
Simeon = mainly Celts (Irish, Welsh, Bretons a lot in Quebec)
Levi = mainly amongst the Jews.
Also many teachers and policemen from Simeon and Levi. Many policemen in the USA are of Irish descent (Simeon and Dan?) and at one time they were perhaps a majority. In the State of Israel quite a few Levis are to be found in the present Israeli police and security forces. "tools of violence are their means of livelihood" Police brutality? Do not get me wrong. Many policemen are very brave, dedicated, and self-sacrificing people sometimes of heroic proportions. They also sometimes in some cases (all over the world) have a darker side.Simeon apparently initiated the decision to attack Joseph. Joseph was aware of this and that is why he had him imprisoned.
[Genesis 42:24] AND HE TURNED HIMSELF ABOUT FROM THEM, AND WEPT; AND RETURNED TO THEM AGAIN, AND COMMUNED WITH THEM, AND TOOK FROM THEM SIMEON,
AND BOUND HIM BEFORE THEIR EYES.
Clifford Smyth in Belfast traced part of the animosity of the Southern Irish towards the British to the traditional hostility of Simeon.
SIMEON ASSIMILATED IN PART AMONGST JUDAH -
"And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go up with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went up with him" Judges 1; 3.
"And the second lot came forth to Simeon, for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah" Judges 19; 1.
FINLAND: SIMEON, GAD, ISSACHAR FINLAND (SUOMI):
Finland is identified as belonging mainly to the Tribes of Gad, Simeon, and especially Issachar. For many years, Finland was ruled by Sweden (Gad) and many Swedes remained in Finland. One of the symbols of Gad was a lion, while the Tribe of Simeon could be represented by a sword (in popular Jewish Art) presumably due to the "instruments of cruelty" (Gen.49;5: Clei Hamas = "tools of violence") they were likened unto and their use (together with Levi) of the sword in massacring the inhabitants of Canaanite Schechem. Both the Sword (Simeon) and the Lion (Gad) are prominent on the Finnish Coat of Arms.
PEOPLES OF SIMEON
Shimeon (Simeon)
Samnitae (Scythia),
Semnoni (Germany, included the Angle-group prior to their invasion of Britain),
Simuen (Ireland),
Simeni (Wales),
Semoni (east Celtic Britain),
Samnites (Brittany Gaul).
Clans of Simeon:
¨ Nemuel = Nemetae (Gaul), Nemnetes? (Gaul).
¨ Ohad =Headobards (Lombards migrated from Scandinavia to North Italy).
¨ Yamin = Yom (Viking group), Ymbrin in Sweden. Ambri moved to Scandinavia and Belgium.
¨ Yacin = Euci (Anglo-Saxon Germany), Eucae (Scythia east of Caspian Sea), Euchatae (Scythia), Iceni (Celtic Britain in "Semoni" region: "Iceni" =approximates to the Phoenician-Hebrew rendition of Yacin).
Hecani (Anglo-Saxon group).
¨ Zerah (Zohar) = Suiar (Holland);.
¨ Zarchi = Zaratae (Scythia).
¨ Shaul = Silures (Wales).
NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND
Most of the tribes settled in, at some time or other the British Isles. Britain was essentially to be dominated by the tribes of Joseph. In Scotland Manasseh, Asher, and Gad were especially prominent. In Wales and Ireland Dan and Simeon are noticeable. The flag of Wales depicts a dragon, which is one of the symbols of Dan. The official flag of Ulster has a Magen David Star in its center which symbol is traditionally associated with Judah and the Jewish people.