“Simeon and Levi are brothers—their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel. (Genesis 49:5-7)
We have looked at first born Reuben who was turbulent in character lacking self control and lacking in command to protect his younger brothers thus losing his father's trust.
Today we examine Simein and Levi. In Hebrew the name Simeone means 'to hear', 'listen' or 'obey'. Levi means attached or pledged. In verse Gen 29:33-34 we see the motivation for Leah to give her newborns these names:
She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.
Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.
Leah seemed to be losing the battle of the competition for Jacob's attention, with his preference for Racheal his first love. Giving her husband sons gave her hope that she would be remembered and reconnected back to Jacob.
Not much is said about Levi and Simeon until we see their fury unleashed on Canaanites after their sister Dinah was raped by Shechem. Gen 34:25-26 But three days later, when their wounds were still sore, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, who were Dinah’s full brothers, took their swords and entered the town without opposition. Then they slaughtered every male there, including Hamor and his son Shechem. They killed them with their swords, then took Dinah from Shechem’s house and returned to their camp.
Given Reuben's level headeness in trying to save Joseph, it is likely that Simeon the second born was the ring leader in wanting to kill Joseph out in the fields. Remember Simeon is the one who was thrown in prison by Joseph when he accused his brothers of being spies. Simeon was ruthless and responded to injustice with vengeance devoid of reason.
He and Levi are the typical representation of those who react to offenses without counsel. Those who lack self control even under severe pressure. Their anger is easily aroused and their response is devastating. Foolishly massacaring the whole town because of one rape case severly exposed a small band of unarmed Jacob's family to reprisal attacks from the massive armies of Canaanities and their allies. Simeon and Levi didnt see this.
Just because a boss /subordinate made a bad remark about you that was embarassing doesnt mean you should react excessively with vengeance like the that of Simeon and Levi. Proverbs 29:11 says "Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end." Are you a Simeon or Levi on the road, on social media, at work or at home? Society hails 'fighting for your right' in a Simeon like style. The result is frustrated, hurting, scattered generations who keep nursing internal wounds. Calm is considered weak, naive, clueless, subdued. But in the end, wisdom emerges only from those quarters.
Where does wisdom start? Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Dont despise wisdom control those spasms of rage that tend to drive you crazy. Fear the Lord.
We have looked at first born Reuben who was turbulent in character lacking self control and lacking in command to protect his younger brothers thus losing his father's trust.
Today we examine Simein and Levi. In Hebrew the name Simeone means 'to hear', 'listen' or 'obey'. Levi means attached or pledged. In verse Gen 29:33-34 we see the motivation for Leah to give her newborns these names:
She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.
Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.
Leah seemed to be losing the battle of the competition for Jacob's attention, with his preference for Racheal his first love. Giving her husband sons gave her hope that she would be remembered and reconnected back to Jacob.
Not much is said about Levi and Simeon until we see their fury unleashed on Canaanites after their sister Dinah was raped by Shechem. Gen 34:25-26 But three days later, when their wounds were still sore, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, who were Dinah’s full brothers, took their swords and entered the town without opposition. Then they slaughtered every male there, including Hamor and his son Shechem. They killed them with their swords, then took Dinah from Shechem’s house and returned to their camp.
Given Reuben's level headeness in trying to save Joseph, it is likely that Simeon the second born was the ring leader in wanting to kill Joseph out in the fields. Remember Simeon is the one who was thrown in prison by Joseph when he accused his brothers of being spies. Simeon was ruthless and responded to injustice with vengeance devoid of reason.
He and Levi are the typical representation of those who react to offenses without counsel. Those who lack self control even under severe pressure. Their anger is easily aroused and their response is devastating. Foolishly massacaring the whole town because of one rape case severly exposed a small band of unarmed Jacob's family to reprisal attacks from the massive armies of Canaanities and their allies. Simeon and Levi didnt see this.
Just because a boss /subordinate made a bad remark about you that was embarassing doesnt mean you should react excessively with vengeance like the that of Simeon and Levi. Proverbs 29:11 says "Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end." Are you a Simeon or Levi on the road, on social media, at work or at home? Society hails 'fighting for your right' in a Simeon like style. The result is frustrated, hurting, scattered generations who keep nursing internal wounds. Calm is considered weak, naive, clueless, subdued. But in the end, wisdom emerges only from those quarters.
Where does wisdom start? Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Dont despise wisdom control those spasms of rage that tend to drive you crazy. Fear the Lord.
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