Bible Dictionary
Simeon, The tribe of
The tribe of Simeon descended from Jacob’s son Simeon. Its inheritance lay within or alongside Judah’s territory in southern Canaan, and the tribe gradually became small and relatively insignificant.
Definition
The tribe of Simeon descended from Jacob’s son Simeon. Its inheritance was a portion of the territory already allotted to Judah, in the south of the land, and the tribe gradually declined in number and influence.
Biblical Usage
The tribe’s history reflects Jacob’s prediction that Simeon would be divided and scattered. It decreased greatly in the wilderness, received no recorded blessing from Moses, and has few later notices.
Historical Background
Simeon’s territory lay southwest of the land, with Judah to the east and Dan to the north. Its boundaries and whether it formed one compact territory cannot be determined from the supplied material.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Was “divided and scattered” according to the prediction in Gen. 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. Num. 1:23; 26:14). Moses pronounces no blessing on this tribe. It is passed by in silence (Deut. 33). This tribe received as their portion a part of the territory already allotted to Judah (Josh. 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 (1 Chr. 4:24-43). Like Reuben on the east of Jordan, this tribe had little influence on the history of Israel.