1 GEMSTONE: Topaz; beautiful, precious; color amber in Israel, blue and green elsewhere in the world. Often large and heavy, the topaz has perfect cleavage, breaking on a flat surface such that it can be distinguished at sight from other minerals. Job likens it to wisdom (see Job 28, especially verse 12); a gift from God, pure, peaceable, gentle (James 3:17); like the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Simeon was born of Leah and was the second son of Jacob.
2 NAME IN HEBREW SCRIPT: Simeon
3 LEFT STREAMER: Literal meaning of Simeon (shimown) is one who hears and obeys. Yeshua says, And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them, will be like a foolish man, who has built his house on sand. (Matthew 7:26) Faith comes by hearing. (Romans 10:7)
4 PAINTING: (see next page)
5 RIGHT STREAMER: The heavenly signs are the fish, like the saints, gentle, wise and easily recognizable (by their love for one another). Messiah, the liberator who sets free. (Isaiah 61:1)
6 THE STANDARD: A pitcher (earthen vessel, II Corinthians 4:7) and a dagger (sword of the Lord), as Gideons defeat of Midianites (Judges 7:20); or city gates ...your seed shall possess the enemies gates. (Genesis 22:17)
7 ASPECT OF THE GOSPEL: Simeon, like Levi, shamed his father by the betrayal and murder of the Sechemites (Genesis 33), but after repentance became the custodian of the cities of refuge, protector of the accused (Numbers 35).
[Note: Numbers for generic elements are not repeated.]
THE SIMEON PAINTING
The pitcher speaks of the unexpected weapon that Gideon used, and the dagger speaks of the sword of the Lord; it reveals the warlike characteristics of this tribe. The Simeonites were fighters from the beginning. The pitcher also speaks about the earthen vessel. As Gideon, who used an earthen vessel (II Corinthians 4:7) for the Lords strategy to defeat the Midianites (Judges 7:15ff), and as the widow used earthen vessels to collect the oil (II Kings 4:3ff), this portrays how the human vessel can be used to reflect Gods glory.
The symbol of the city gates speaks of Shalem, a city of Shechem, in the land of Canaan which Simeon and Levi totally destroyed in a vicious attack upon it. (Genesis 34) God promised Abraham, Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. Simeon is of the seed of Abraham, so he has this promise given to him, And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Genesis 12:3)
The symbol of the fishes refers to the heavenly sign, Pisces, which is closely connected with multitudes. In Genesis 40:26, Jacob blesses Josephs sons, and says, "Let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." The margin says, Let them grow as fishes do increase. It refers to the fulfilment of Genesis 1:28, Be fruitful and multiply. These fishes are a representation of the Church. In fact, we use as a symbol of our church, the Ichthusa picture of a fishone of the ancient symbols of the Church.. There can be no doubt that we have in this sign the foreshadowing of the multiplication and blessing of the children of promise, and a token of their coming deliverance from all the power of the enemy.
THE PROPHECIES OF SIMEON
Second Son Born to Jacob by Leah
Prophecy by Jacob
"Simeon and Levi are brothers; instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. Let not my soul enter their council; let not my honor be united to their assembly; for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they hamstrung an ox. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel. (Genesis 49:5-7)
[Note: The last sentence is fulfilled, in that the Levites had no inheritance of land, but their inheritance was from the Lord. (Deuteronomy 10:9; 18:1,2; Joshua 13:14) Simeon received the cities of refuge.]
Gwen Shaw writes from her work on Tribes of Israel, "Moses does not mention Simeon at all in his last prophecies to Israel. This may sound strange, but when we read again the prophecy that Jacob gave to Simeon and Levi, we can understand, "I will divide them in Jacob." The Lord said he would put a separation between them, because when they were together they were a bad influence on each other."
Simeon
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