Simeon (sources)

Masoretic Text, LXX, DSS, Targumim

Genesis 29:33

MT (NRSV) -- [33] She conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also"; and she named him Simeon.

LXX (NETS) -- And Leia conceived again and bore a second son to Iakob and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated, he has also in addition given me this one too,” and she called his name Symeon.

Targum Pseudo -- Jonathan - And she conceived again, and bare a son. And she said, Because it was heard before the Lord that I was hated, and He gave me this also: and so will be heard before Him the voice of my children when they shall be enslaved in Mizraim. And she called his name Shimeon.

Targum Onkelos -- And she conceived again and bare a son, and she said, Because it was heard before the Lord that I had hatred, and He gave me this also; and she called his name Shemeon.

Genesis 34:25-31

MT (NRSV) -- [13] The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully, because he had defiled their sister Dinah. [14] They said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us... [25] On the third day, when they were still in pain, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and came against the city unawares, and killed all the males. [26] They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went away... [30] Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me by making me odious to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites... [31] But they said, "Should our sister be treated like a whore?"

LXX (NETS -- [13] But the sons of Iakob answered Sychem and his father Hemmor with deceit and spoke with them, because they had defiled their sister Dina, [14] and Symeon and Leui, Dina’s brothers, Leia’s sons, said to them, “We will not be able to carry out this matter, to give our sister to a man who has a foreskin, for it is a disgrace to us... [25] Now it came about on the third day, when they were in pain, that the two sons of Iakob, Symeon and Leui, Dina’s brothers, took each one his dagger and entered into the city safely and killed every male. [26] They killed both Hemmor and his son Sychem with a dagger’s edge and took Dina out of Sychem’s house and went away... [30] Then Iakob said to Symeon and Leui, “You have made me hateful so that I am evil to all those inhabiting the land, both among the Chananites and the Pherezites... [31] Nevertheless they said, “But shall they treat our sister like a whore?”

DSS, 1QGen -- [30] And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me by making me odious to the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites. I being few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and attack me, and I shall be destroyed, I and my household." 31 And they said, "Should he treat our sister as a harlot?"

Targum Pseudo-Jonathan -- And it was on the third day, when they were weak from the pain of their circumcision, two of the sons of Jakob, Shimeon and Levi, the brothers of Dinah, took each man his sword, and came upon the city, which was dwelling securely and killed every male. 26 And Hamor and Shekem his son they killed with the edge of the sword; and they took Dinah from the house of Shekem, and went forth. 27 And the rest of the sons of Jakob came to the spoil of the slain, and they sacked the city because they had polluted their sister in the midst of it. 28 Their flocks, and oxen, and asses, and whatever was in the city or in the field they spoiled; and all their wealth and all their little ones they took and spoiled, and all that was in the houses.29 [...] 30 And Jakob said to Shimeon and Levi, You have made my name to go forth as evil among the inhabitants of the land, among the Kenaanites and Phezerites. And I am a people of (small) number, and they will gather together against me, and destroy me and the men of my house. 31 And Shimeon and Levi answered, It would not have been fit to be said in the congregations of Israel that the uncircumcised polluted the virgin, and the worshippers of idols debased the daughter of Jakob: but it is fit that it should be said, The uncircumcised were slain on account of the virgin, and the worshippers of idols on account of the daughter of Jakob. Shekem bar Hamor will not (now) deride us with his words; for as a whorish woman and an outcast who hath no avenger would he have made our sister, if we had not done this thing.

Targum Onkelos -– And it was on the third day, when their pains were strong upon them,that the two sons of Jakob, Shemeon and Levi, the brothers of Dinah, took each man his sword, and came upon the city, which dwelt in security, and slew every male,26 And Hamor and Shekem his son they killed with the edge of the sword. And they brought Dinah out of the house of Shekem, and went. 27 And the sons of Jakob came up to the spoil of the slain, and sacked the town, because they had defiled their sister. 28 Their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and all that was in the city and the field, they took. 29 And all their substance, and all their little ones, and their wives, they captured and spoiled, and all which was in the house. 30 And Jakob said to Shemeon and Levi, You have troubled me, in putting strife between me and the inhabitants of the land, the Kenaanites and the Perrezites, and I a people (few) for number; and they will gather against me, and smite me, and I shall perish, I and the men of my house. 31 And they said, As with an outcast should he deal with our sister?

Genesis 35:23

MT (NRSV) -- [23] The sons of Leah [were] Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

LXX (NETS) -- [23] The sons of Leia [were] Rouben (Iakob’s firstborn), Symeon, Leui, Ioudas, Issachar, Zaboulon.

DSS, 1QGen -- [T]he sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun

Tg Pseudo-Jonathan -- The sons of Leah, the first‑born of Jakob, Reuben, and Shimeon, and Levi, and Jehudah, and Issakar, and Zabulon.

Tg Onkelos -- The sons of Leah, the firstborn of Jakob, Reuben, and Shemeon, and Levi, and Jehudah, and Issakar, and Zebulon.

Genesis 42:24, 36; 43:23

MT (NRSV) -- [24] Then he [i.e. Joseph] returned and spoke to them. And he picked out Simeon and had him bound before their eyes... [36] And their father Jacob said to them, "I am the one you have bereaved of children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has happened to me!" ... [43:23] Then he brought Simeon out to them.

LXX (NETS) -- [24] And again he [i.e. Joseph] came to them and spoke to them, and he took Symeon from them and bound him before them... [36] And their father Iakob said to them, “I am the one you have bereaved of children: Ioseph is not, Symeon is not, and you will take Beniamin. All this has come upon me!”... [43:23] And he brought Symeon out to them...

Tg Pseudo-Jonathan -- [24] And he withdrew from them and wept, and returned and, spake with them. And from them he took Shimeon, who had counselled them to kill him, and bound him before them... [36] And Jakob their father said to them, Me have you bereaved! Of Joseph you said, An evil beast hath devoured him; of Shimeon you have said, The king of the land hath bound him; and Benjamin you seek to take away: upon me is the anguish of all of them... [43:23] And he said, Peace to you; be not afraid of my lord. Your God and the God of your fathers gave you treasure in your sacks: your money came to me. And he brought out Shimeon to them.

Tg Onkelos -- [24] And Joseph turned away from them, and wept; and again he came to them, and spoke to them; and he took Symeon from them, and bound him before their eyes... [36] And Jakob their father said to them, Me have you made desolate; Joseph is not, and Shemeon is not (here), and Benjamin you would take away; upon me are all these!... [43:23] And he said, Peace be to you: fear not; your God, and the God of your father, gave you treasure in, your bags; your money came to me. And he brought out Shemeon to them.

Genesis 43:14

MT (RSV) - May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, that he may send back your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”

LXX – And my God give you favour in the sight of the man, and send away your other brother, and Benjamin, for I accordingly as I have been bereaved, am bereaved.

Tg Pseudo-Jonathan - and God the Almighty give you mercies before the man, that he may release to you your other brother, and Benjamin: and I, behold, I am now certified by the Holy Spirit that if I am bereaved of Joseph, I shall also be bereaved of Shimeon and of Benjamin. [Jerusalem And I, behold, if I be not bereaved of my son Joseph, so shall I not add to be bereaved of Shimeon and of Benjamin.]

Tg Onkelos - and God the Almighty give you favour before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. And I, when desolated, shall be desolate!

Genesis 46:10

MT (RSV) -- The sons of Simeon: Jemu'el, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanitish woman.

LXX – and the sons of Symeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Aod, and Achin, and Saar, and Saul, the son of a Chananitish woman.

DSS, 1QGen -- The children of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman.

Tg Pseudo-Jonathan –- The sons of Shimeon, Jemuel and Jamin, Ochad, Jakin, Sochar and Shaul: he is Zimri, who made the work of the Kenaanites in Shittim.

Tg Onkelos -- And the sons of Sheemon, Jemuel, and Janin, and Ahad, and Jakin, and Zochar, and Shaul, the son of a Kenaanitha.

Genesis 48:5

MT (RSV) -- And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; E'phraim and Manas'seh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are.

LXX – Now then thy two sons, who were born to thee in the land of Egypt, before I came to thee into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasse, as Ruben and Symeon they shall be mine.

DSS, 1QGen -- And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon are mine.

Tg Pseudo-Jonathan –- And now, thy two sons who have been born to thee in the land of Mizraim before I came to thee into Mizraim are mine; Ephraim and Menasheh as Reuben and Shimeon shall be reckoned unto me.

Tg Onkelos -- And now thy two sons which were born to thee in the land of Mizraim, before my coming to thee into Mizraim, are mine; Ephraim and Menashe shall be as Reuben and Shimeon before me

Genesis 49:5-7

MT (RSV) -- Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. O my soul, come not into their council; O my spirit, be not joined to their company; for in their anger they slay men, and in their wantonness they hamstring oxen. 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.

LXX -- Symeon and Levi, brethren, accomplished the injustice of their cutting off. Let not my soul come into their counsel, and let not mine inward parts contend in their conspiracy, for in their wrath they slew men, and in their passion they houghed a bull. Cursed be their wrath, for it was willful, and their anger, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

DSS, 1QGen -- "Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence. 6 Let my soul not come into their council; let my glory not be united with their assembly, for in their anger they killed men, and with pleasure they hamstrung oxen.7 Let their anger be cursed, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will scatter them in Jacob, and disperse them in Israel.

Tg Pseudo-Jonathan -- Shimeon and Levi are brothers of the womb, men who are masters of sharp weapons; they made war from their youth; in the land of their adversary they wrought out the triumphs of war. In their counsels my soul found no pleasure; and in their gathering together at the city of Shekem to destroy it, they were not favourable to my honour; for in their anger they slew kings with princes, and in their wilfulness they sold Joseph their brother, who is compared to the ox. Accursed was the town of shekem when Shimeon and Levi entered to destroy it in their wrath, for it was strong, and in their anger, for it was cruel. And Jakob our father said, If these remain together, no people or kingdom can stand before them. I will divide the tribe of Shimeon, that they may become preachers and teachers of the law in the congregation of Jakob; and I will disperse the tribe of Levi in the houses of instruction for the sons of Israel.

Tg Onkelos –- Shimeon and Levi are brothers; mighty men in the land of their sojourning, they did mightily. My soul was not in their secret; into their company to come I would not have descended from mine honour. For in their anger they slew a slaughter, and in their wilfulness they razed the wall of their enemy. Accursed was their anger, for it was strong, and their wrath, for it was relentless. I will divide them in Jakob, and I will scatter them in Israel.

Exodus 1:1-4

MT (NRSV) -- These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

LXX -- These are the names of the sons of Israel that came into Egypt together with Jacob their father; they came in each with their whole family. 2 Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Judas, 3 Issachar, Zabulon, Benjamin, 4 Dan and Nephthalim, Gad and Aser. 5 But Joseph was in Egypt. And all the souls born of Jacob were seventy-five.

DSS, 1QGen -- These are the names of the sons of Israel, who came to Egypt with Jacob their father; they came each one with his household. 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 and Issachar, and Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

Tg Pseudo-Jonathan -- AND these are the names of the sons of Israel who went into Mizraim with Jakob, each with the men of his house entered in: 2 Reuben, Shimeon, Levi, and Jehudah; 3 Issakar, Zebulon, and Benjamin; 4 Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.

Tg Onkelos -- AND these are the names of the sons of Israel who went into Mizraim with Jakob, each with the men of his house entered in: 2 Reuben, Shimeon, Levi, and Jehudah; 3 Issakar, Zebulon, and Benjamin; 4 Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.

Exodus 6:15

MT (RSV) - The sons of Simeon: Jemu'el, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon.

LXX - And the sons of Symeon, Jemuel and Jamin, and Aod, and Jachin and Saar, and Saul the son of a Phoenician woman, these are the families of the sons of Symeon.

DSS, 1QGen -- And the sons of Symeon, Jemuel and Jamin, and Aod, and Jachin and Saar, and Saul the son of a Phoenician woman, these are the families of the sons of Symeon.

Tg Onkelos -- And the sons of Shimeon, Yemuel and Yamin and Achad and Yakin and Zochar and Shaul the son of a Kenaanitha; these are the progeny of Shimeon.

Tg Pseudo-Jonathan -- And the sons of Shimeon, Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jakin, and Sochar, and Shaul (he is Zimri, who yielded himself unto fornication, as among the Kenaanaee); these are the race of Shimeon.

1 Chronicles 2:1

RSV -- These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Is'sachar, Zeb'ulun,

LXX -- These are the names of the sons of Israel; 2 Ruben, Symeon, Levi, Juda, Issachar, Zabulon, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Nephthali, Gad, Aser.

Apocrypha

Judith 9:1-2

At the very time when the evening incense was being offered in the house of God in Jerusalem, Judith cried out to the Lord with a loud voice, and said, 2 "O Lord God of my ancestor Simeon, to whom you gave a sword to take revenge on those strangers who had torn off a virgin's clothing to defile her, and exposed her thighs to put her to shame, and polluted her womb to disgrace her; for you said, 'It shall not be done'-- yet they did it.

4 Maccabees 2:18-20

For, as I have said, the temperate mind is able to get the better of the emotions, to correct some, and to render others powerless. 19 Why else did Jacob, our most wise father, censure the households of Simeon and Levi for their irrational slaughter of the entire tribe of the Shechemites, saying, "Cursed be their anger"? 20 For if reason could not control anger, he would not have spoken thus.

Pseudepigrapha

Testament of Simeon

T. Simeon 1:1-2 -- 1 The copy of the words of Simeon, the things which he spake to his sons before he died, in the 2 hundred and twentieth year of his life, at which time Joseph, his brother, died. For when Simeon was sick , his sons came to visit him, and he strengthened himself and sat up and kissed them, and said:--

T. Simeon 2:1-14 -- Hearken, my children, to Simeon your father, And I will declare unto you what things I have in my heart. 2 I was born of Jacob as my father's second son; And my mother Leah called me Simeon, Because the Lord had heard her prayer. 3 Moreover, I became strong exceedingly; I shrank from no achievement, Nor was I afraid of ought. 4 For my heart was hard, And my liver was immovable, And my bowels without compassion. 5, 6 Because valour also has been given from the Most High to men in soul and body. For in the time of my youth I was jealous in many things of Joseph, because my father loved him beyond 7 all. And I set my mind against him to destroy him, because the prince of deceit sent forth the spirit of jealousy and blinded my mind, so that I regarded him not as a brother, nor did I spare even 8 Jacob my father. But his God and the God of his fathers sent forth His angel, and delivered him 9 out of my hands. For when I went to Shechem to bring ointment for the flocks, and Reuben to Dothan, where were our necessaries and all our stores, Judah my brother sold him to the Ishmaelites. 10 And when Reuben heard these things he was grieved, for he wished to restore him to his father. 11 But on hearing this I was exceedingly wroth against Judah in that he let him go away alive, and 12 for five months I continued wrathful against him. But the Lord restrained me, and withheld from 13 me the power of my hands; for my right hand was half withered for seven days. And I knew, my children, that because of Joseph this had befallen me, and I repented and wept; and I besought the Lord God that my hand might be restored, and that I might hold aloof from all pollution and envy 14 and from all folly. For I knew that I had devised an evil thing before the Lord and Jacob my father, on account of Joseph my brother, in that I envied him.

T. Simeon 3:1-6 -- 1 And now, my children, hearken unto me and beware of the spirit of deceit and envy. For envy ruleth over the whole mind of a man, and suffereth him neither to eat nor to drink, nor to do any 3 good thing. But it ever suggesteth (to him) to destroy him that he envieth; and so long as he that 4 is envied flourisheth, he that envieth fadeth away. Two years therefore I afflicted my soul with fasting in the fear of the Lord, and I learnt that deliverance from envy cometh by the fear of God. 5 For if a man flee to the Lord, the evil spirit runneth away from him, and his mind is lightened. 6 And henceforward he sympathiseth with him whom he envied and forgiveth those who are hostile to him, and so ceaseth from his envy.

T. Simeon 4:1-9 -- 1 And my father asked Concerning me, because he saw that I was sad; and I said unto him, I am 2 pained in my liver. For I mourned more than they all, because I was guilty of the selling of Joseph. 3 And when we went down into Egypt, and he bound me as a spy, I knew that I was suffering justly, 4 and I grieved not. Now Joseph was a good man, and had the Spirit of God within him: being compassionate and pitiful, he bore no malice against me; but loved me even as the rest of his 5 brethren. Beware, therefore, my children, of all jealousy and envy, and walk in singleness of soul and with good heart, keeping in mind Joseph your father's brother, that God may give you also grace and glory, and blessing upon your heads, even as ye saw in 6 Joseph's case. All his days he reproached us not concerning this thing, but loved us as his own 7 soul, and beyond his own sons glorified us, and gave us riches, and cattle and fruits. Do ye also, my children, love each one his brother with a good heart and the spirit of envy will withdraw from 8 you. For this maketh savage the soul and destroyeth the body; it causeth anger and war in the mind, and stirreth up unto deeds of blood, and leadeth the mind into frenzy, and suffereth not prudence to act in men; moreover, it taketh away sleep, [and causeth tumult to the soul and trembling to the body]. 9 For even in sleep some malicious jealousy, deluding him, gnaweth and with wicked spirits disturbeth his soul, and causeth the body to be troubled, and waketh the mind from sleep in confusion; and as a wicked and poisonous spirit, so appeareth it to men.

T. Simeon 5:1-6 -- 1 Therefore was Joseph comely in appearance and goodly to look upon, because no wickedness 2 dwelt in him; for some of the trouble of the spirit the face manifesteth. And now, my children, Make your hearts good before the Lord, And your ways straight before men. And ye shall find grace before the Lord and men. 3 Beware, therefore, of fornication, For fornication is mother of all evils, Separating from God, and bringing near to Beliar. 4 For I have seen it inscribed in the writing of Enoch that your sons shall be corrupted in fornication, 5 and shall do harm to the sons of Levi with the sword. But they shall not be able to withstand Levi; 6 for he shall wage the war of the Lord, and shall conquer all your hosts. And they shall be few in number, divided in Levi and Judah, and there shall be none of you for sovereignty, even as also our father prophesied in his blessings.

T. Simeon 6:1-7 -- 1,2 Behold I have told you all things, that I may be acquitted of your sin. Now, if ye remove from you your envy and all stiff-neckedness, As a rose shall my bones flourish in Israel, And as a lily my flesh in Jacob, And my odour shall be as the odour of Libanus; And as cedars shall holy ones be multiplied from me forever, And their branches shall stretch afar off. 3 Then shall perish the seed of Canaan, And a remnant shall not be unto Amalek, And all the Cappadocians shall perish, And all the Hittites shall be utterly destroyed. 4 Then shall fail the land of Ham, And all the people shall perish. Then shall all the earth rest from trouble, And all the world under heaven from war. 5 Then the Mighty One of Israel shall glorify Shem, For the Lord God shall appear on earth, And Himself save men. 6 Then shall all the spirits of deceit be given to be trodden under foot, And men shall rule over wicked spirits. 7 Then shall I arise in joy, And will bless the Most High because of his marvellous works, [Because God hath taken a body and eaten with men and saved men].

T. Simeon 7:1-3 -- 1 And now, my children, obey Levi and Judah, and be not lifted up against these two tribes, for 2 from them shall arise unto you the salvation of God. For the Lord shall raise up from Levi as it were a High-priest, and from Judah as it were a King [God and man], He shall save all [the Gentiles 3 and] the race of Israel. Therefore I give you these commands that ye also may command your children that they may observe them throughout their generations.

T. Simeon 8:1-4 -- 1 And when Simeon had made an end of commanding his sons, he slept with his fathers, being an 2 hundred and twenty years old. And they laid him in a wooden coffin, to take up his bones to 3 Hebron. And they took them up secretly during a war of the Egyptians. For the bones of Joseph 4 the Egyptians guarded in the tombs of the kings. For the sorcerers told them; that on the departure of the bones of Joseph there should be throughout all the land darkness and gloom, and an exceeding great plague to the Egyptians, so that even with a lamp a man should not recognize his brother.

T. Simeon 9:1-2 -- 1, 2 And the sons of Simeon bewailed their father. And they were in Egypt until the day of their departure by the hand of Moses.

Testament of Levi

T. Levi 2:1 -- I, Levi, was born in Haran, and I came with my father to Shechem. And I was young, about twenty years of age, when, with Simeon, I wrought vengeance on Hamor for our sister Dinah.

T. Levi 6:3-4 -- And after this I counselled my father, and Reuben my brother, to bid the sons of Hamor not to be circumcised; for I was zealous because of the abomination which they had wrought on my sister. 4 And I slew Shechem first, and Simeon slew Hamor. And after this my brothers came and smote that city with the edge of the sword.

Testament of Judah

T. Judah 6:5 -- And I and Simeon hid ourselves behind the town, and seized upon the heights, and destroyed this city also.

T. Judah 25:1 -- And after these things shall Abraham and Isaac and Jacob arise unto life, and I and my brethren shall be chiefs of the tribes of Israel: Levi first, I the second, Joseph third, Benjamin fourth, Simeon fifth, Issachar sixth, and so all in order.

T. Judah 25:2 -- And the Lord blessed Levi, and the Angel of the Presence, me; the powers of glory, Simeon; the heaven, Reuben; the earth, Issachar; the sea, Zebulun; the mountains, Joseph; the tabernacle, Benjamin; the luminaries, Dan; Eden, Naphtali; the sun, Gad; the moon, Asher.

The Testament of Zebulun

T. Zebulun 2:1-2 -- 1, 2 For Simeon and Gad came against Joseph to kill him, and he said unto them with tears: Pity me, my brethren, have mercy upon the bowels of Jacob our father: lay not upon me your hands to shed innocent blood, for I have not sinned against you.

T. Zebulun 3:1-3 -- 1, 2 For in his price I had no share, my children. But Simeon and Gad and six other of our brethren took the price of Joseph, and bought sandals for themselves, and their wives, and their children, 3 saying: We will not eat of it, for it is the price of our brother's blood, but we will assuredly tread it under foot, because he said that he would be king over us, and so let us see what will become of his dreams.

T. Zebulun 4:1-2 -- 1 And after he was sold my brothers sat down 2 to eat and drink. But I, through pity for Joseph, did not eat, but watched the pit, since Judah feared lest Simeon, Dan, and Gad should rush off and slay him.

T. Zebulun 4:11-13 -- Now Simeon took the coat, and would not give it up, for he wished to rend it with his sword, as he was angry that Joseph lived and that 12 he had not slain him. Then we all rose up and said unto him: If thou givest not up the coat, we 13 will say to our father that thou alone didst this evil thing in Israel. And so he gave it unto them, and they did even as Dan had said.

Testament of Gad

T. Gad 2:1-3 -- 1 I confess now my sin, my children, that oftentimes I wished to kill him, because I hated him from 2 my heart. Moreover, I hated him yet more for his dreams; and I wished to lick him out of the land of the living, even as an ox licketh up the grass of the field. 3 Therefore I and Simeon sold him to the Ishmaelites [for thirty pieces of gold, and ten of them we hid, and showed the twenty to our brethren]

Jubilees

Jub 28:13 -- And again Jacob went in unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob a second son, and he called his name Simeon, on the twenty-first of the tenth month, and in the third year of this week.

Jub 30:4 -- And Simeon and Levi came unexpectedly to Shechem and executed judgment on all the men of Shechem, and slew all the men whom they found in it, and left not a single one remaining in it: they slew all in torments because they had dishonoured their sister Dinah.

Jub 33:22 -- And these were the names of the sons of Jacob: the first-born Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulon, the sons of Leah; and the sons of Rachel, Joseph and Benjamin; and the sons of Bilhah, Dan and Naphtali; and the sons of Zilpah, Gad and Asher; and Dinah, the daughter of Leah, the only daughter of Jacob.

Jub 34:21 -- And Simeon repented, and took a second wife from Mesopotamia as his brothers.

Jub 38:8 -- And Simeon and Benjamin and Enoch, Reuben's son, went forth on the west side of the tower, and fifty (men) with them, and they slew of Edom and of the Horites four hundred men, stout warriors; and six hundred. fled, and four of the sons of Esau fled with them, and left their father lying slain, as he had fallen on the hill which is in Aduram

Jub 42:6 -- And he [Joseph] put them in ward. And after that he set them free again, and detained Simeon alone and sent off his nine brothers.

Jub 44:13 -- Simeon and his sons; and these are the names of his sons: Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul, the son of the Zephathite woman--seven

Joseph and Aseneth

Jos. Asen. 22:7 -- And Joseph and Aseneth went to their house, and they sent before them Simeon and Levi, because those who have hatred were envying. Levi was at the right of Aseneth and Simeon at the left.

Jos. Asen. 23:2-7 -- And having seen Aseneth, he became mad by her because of her surpassing beauty. And the son of Pharaoh sent messengers [3] and summoned Simeon and Levi. 3 and they came to him [and stood before him]. And [the son of Pharaoh] says to them: "I know that you are powerful men, beyond all men upon the earth [and with your right hands the city of Shechem was destroyed and with your two swords you cut down thirty thousands of fighting men]. 4 "I beg that I may take you for my assistance. Behold, I will give you much gold and silver, and menservants and maidservants, and houses and great inheritances. Come to an arrangement with me, and be merciful to me. For I was deeply insulted by your brother Joseph, because he took Aseneth for (his) wife and this one was pledged to me from the beginning. 5 "[And now come with me, and I will make war against Joseph and kill him with my sword, and] I will taken Aseneth for (my) wife; and you will be my brothers and my friends to the end. 6 "But if you will not listen to my words, I will kill you with my sword." And saying these things, he bared his sword and showed it them. 7 Now Simeon was a brave but impetuous man, and he drew his sword from its scabbard and wanted to strike the son of Pharaoh.

Jos. Asen. 27:6 -- Then the sons of Leah, Reuben and Simeon, Levi and Judah, [Issachar] and Zebulon, pursued after the men who had lain in ambush; and they fell upon them suddenly, and cut down the two thousand men, and the six of them killed them.

Jos. Asen. 28:12-15 -- And Simeon said to Aseneth: "Why should our mistress plead for her enemies? 13 "No! We will cut them down with our swords, because they have plotted evil against our father Israel and against our brother Joseph already twice, and (they have plotted) against you today." 14 And Aseneth said to him: "No brother, you must not repay evil for evil to your neighbor, for the Lord will avenge this outrage." 15 And after these things Simeon bowed to Aseneth.

Fragments from Jewish Hellenistic Authors

Theodotus

Eusebius, Praep. ev. 9.22.8-9 -- So, while Hamor had gone into the city, and was urging them to submit themselves to be circumcised, one of Jacob's sons --Simeon --had decided that he would kill both Hamor and Shechem. For he was unwilling to deal civilly with the insult against his sister. And he shared his decisions with his brother, Levi. Taking hold of him, he urged his cooperation in the deed by alleging that God had told Abraham that he would give ten nations to him as descendants. And Simeon spoke to Levi in this manner: "I have learned the story well from God , 2 for, in an earlier time, he said that he would give ten nations to the children of Abraham."

'But God, it is said, had put this thought into their mind, because the inhabitants of Shechem were ungodly men. And this is what he says: "The Shechemites who spared no guest that came, Nor bad nor good regarded, God would smite. No law nor justice in their state was found, But all their thoughts were set on deeds of death."

Eusebius, Praep. ev. 8:1-10 -- So, Levi and Simeon went fully armed into the city. At first, they killed those they happened [to encounter], and then they slew both Hamor and Shechem. And [Theodotus] speaks in this manner concerning their destruction: "So Simeon rushed at Hamor, 2 they struck him on the head, and he grabbed his throat with his left hand. 3 But he let go while [Hamor] was still gasping for breath, since he had other troubles to deal with. 4 Meanwhile, Levi grabbed his hair with irresistible force, 5 while Shechem held his knees in unspeakable rage. 6 But [Levi] struck the center of his collarbone, and drove the sharp edge of the sword 7 into his guts through his chest, and the life quickly left his body. 8 When the other brothers learned of their action, they came to help 9 and plundered the city. Having rescued their sister, they took her [or "Having recovered, they took their sister"] 10 and the captives back to their father's home."

Demetrius the Chronographer

Eusebius, Praep. ev. 9:21.3 -- Then after spending 7 years there, he married two daughters of Laban, his maternal uncle, Leah and Rachel, when he was 84 years old. In seven more years, 12 children were born to him. In the tenth month of the eighth year, Reuben (was born); and in the eighth month of the ninth year, Simeon; and in the 6th month of the tenth year, Levi; and in the 4th month of the eleventh year, Judah.

Eusebius, Praep. ev. 9:21.9 -- Now Israel lived beside Hamor for 10 years, and Israel's daughter, Dinah, was defiled by Shechem the son of Hamor, when she was 16 years and 4 months old. And Israel's son Simeon, at 21 years and 4 months, and Levi, at 20 years and 6 months of age, rushed out and slew both Hamor and his son Shechem, and all their males, because of the defilement of Dinah; and Jacob was 107 years old at the time.

Philo

De ebrietate 1:94 -- [F]or by the demonstration "this," they show that they have other sons likewise, some of whom obey one of them, and others of whom obey them both, being well-disposed reasonings, of whom Reuben is an example; others again, who are fond of hearing and learning, of whom Simeon is a specimen, for his name, being interpreted, means "hearing;

De fuga et inventione 1:73 -- But since the blessing of the good has the precedence in panegyrics, and the affixing curses on the wicked is in the second rank of those who are appointed for these duties (and they are the chiefs, and leaders of the race, twelve in number, whom it is customary to call the patriarchs), he has assigned the better six, who are the best for the task of blessing, namely, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin; and the others he has appointed for the curses, namely, the first and last sons of Leah, Reuben, and Zabulon, and the four bastard sons by the handmaidens.

De mutatione nominum 1:97 -- And what shall we say of the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh? Are they not, in strict accordance with nature, compared to the two eldest sons of Jacob, Reuben and Simeon? For the scripture says, "Thy two sons who were born in Egypt, before that I came into Egypt, belong to me; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be to me as Reuben and as Simeon."

De mutatione nominum 1:99 -- Again, the name of Simeon is a symbol of learning and instruction; for, being interpreted, it signifies "listening," and it is the especial part of a learner to listen and attend to what is said. But Manasseh is a symbol of "recollection," for thus that art is called, from forgetfulness;

De mutatione nominum 1:200 -- And those who are prepared to avenge themselves on such profane and impure dispositions are Simeon and Levi, [Deuteronomy xxxiii. 6] two indeed in number, but only one in mind; on which account, in his blessings of his sons, their father numbers them together under one classification, on account of the harmonious character of their unanimity and of their violence in one and the same direction. But Moses does not make any mention of them afterwards as a pair, but classes the whole tribe of Simeon under that of Levi, combining together two essences, of which he made one impressed as it were with one idea and appearance, uniting hearing to doing.

De somniis 2:34 -- Simeon is an emblem of learning, for his name being interpreted means, "listening."

Josephus

Ant. 1:304 -- A]nd when she had borne a son, and her husband was on that account better reconciled to her, she named her son Reuben, because God had had mercy upon her, in giving her a son , for that is the meaning of this name. After some time she bare three more sons; Simeon, which name signifies that God had listened to her prayer.

Ant. 1:339-340 -- So the king went away, in hopes that Jacob would grant him this marriage. But Jacob informed his sons of the defilement of their sister, and of the address of Hamor; and desired them to give their advice what they should do. Upon this, the greatest part said nothing, not knowing what advice to give. But Simeon and Levi, the brethren of the damsel by the same mother, agreed between themselves upon the action following: 340 it being now the time of a festival, when the Shechemites were employed in ease and feasting, they attacked the watch when they were asleep, and, coming into the city, slew all the males; as also the king, and his son, with them; but spared the women. And when they had done this, without their father's consent, they brought away their sister.

Ant. 2:109-110 -- Now when Joseph saw that they were in this distress, he was so affected at it that he fell into tears, and not being willing that they should take notice of him, he retired; and after a while came to them again, 110 and taking Simeon, in order to be his pledge for his brethren's return, he bade them take the grain they had bought, and go their way.

Ant. 2:121 -- And when he had loosed Simeon, and made him presentable, he allowed him to be with his brethren; at which time Joseph came from his attendance on the king.

Ant. 2:178 -- Simeon had six [sons]--Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, Shaul

Early Christian Sources

Tertullian

Adv. Jud. 10. -- When Jacob pronounced a blessing on Simeon and Levi, he prophesies of the scribes and Pharisees; for from them is derived their origin. For (his blessing) interprets spiritually thus: “Simeon and Levi perfected iniquity out of their sect,” —whereby, to wit, they persecuted Christ: “into their counsel come not my soul! and upon their station rest not my heart! because in their indignation they slew men”—that is, prophets—“and in their concupiscence they hamstrung a bull!” —that is, Christ, whom—after the slaughter of prophets—they slew, and exhausted their savagery by transfixing His sinews with nails. Else it is idle if, after the murder already committed by them, he upbraids others, and not them, with butchery.

Rabbinic Sources

Genesis Rabbah

Gen. Rab. 80:10 -- That the two sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, took each man his sword. Since it says, Simeon and Levi, do we not know that they were Jacob’s sons? But sons of Jacob teaches that they did not take counsel with Jacob. Simeon and Levi—they did not take counsel with each other.

Gen. Rab. 91:6 -- “I see in my cup that two of you destroyed a great city and that ye sold your brother to the Arabs,” he told them. They were immediately seized with trembling and exclaimed, “We are twelve.” “Where then are the other two?” “One is dead and the other is with our father.” “Then go and bring him to me,” he ordered them. (He took Simeon and bound him before their eyes, because it was he who had pushed him into the pit, and separated him from Levi, lest they should devise a plot against him. Said Simeon to his brethren: “So ye did unto Joseph and so ye wish to do to me.” “What can we do?” they replied. “Are the members of our household to die of famine?” “Do as you wish,” he told them. “Now I will see who will put me into prison.” … “Throw this man into prison,” Joseph ordered them. But as they approached him, he [Simeon] cried out aloud at them; on hearing his voice they fell on their faces and their teeth were broken, as it says, When the lion roareth and the fierce lion howleth, the teeth of the young lions are broken (Job 4:10).

Gen. Rab. 95:4 -- And from among (Mikzeh) his bretheren he took five men, etc. (Gen 47:2). Why does Scripture say Mikzeh? Scripture comes to teach that they were not the strongest of the tribal ancestors. And who were these five? Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Benjamin, and Issachar. And why did the righteous Joseph take these five of his brethren? Because he knew who were the strong men among his bretheren, and he reasoned wisely: If I present the strongest to Pharaoh, he will on seeing them make them his warriors. Therefore he presented these five, who were not mighty men.