Principles of Simeon and Levi

Principles of Simeon and Levi

Foreword:

The following notes are from a study in a series on the Twelve Tribes of Israel; This was originally done in 1995.. A more expanded version of this study, as well as the remainder of the articles in this series will follow shortly (As time permits). This study is based on the Prophetic Blessings of Jacob over his twelve Sons (Gen 49:etc.), and Moses’ Prophetic Blessing upon the twelve Tribes of Israel (Deut 33).

Jacob and his Twelve sons are a type of the “Tree of Life” bearing Twelve manner of Fruit. We must realize that these sons of Jacob each represent a mini-type of Christ, who is both the “True vine” and the “Branch” man (See John 15:1 & Zech 3:8). The twelve Apostles of the lamb are also in view, for they are “The Branches.” Every born again believer has a position also as one of the branches of the tree of life, and is therefore an heir to the blessings and promises made concerning him as one of the “Sons of Jacob, the Israel of God (Gal 6:16).” When we are born again, we are a Spiritual Son of Abraham; and as such, there are certain “Spiritual Characteristics” of the Twelve Tribes that we bear. It is our hope that the readers might discover more about their gifts, callings, and placement as Spiritual “Sons of Jacob,” as they study these articles.

At the outset, let us consider that the twelve sons of Jacob were not all born of the same mother, in other words, all of them were really half brothers to some of the others. Although they all had the same Father, they had different mothers; this caused that some of the various traits were much different, and not always the most beneficial in the overall. Some of the Sons were born of concubines, and not to the married wives of Jacob at all. We will look more closely into these kinds of relationships as the study progresses. The only two sons who were born of Rachel (or, a Ewe-Sheep), Jacob’s beloved wife were Joseph and Benjamin; as we pursue this study we will find out many things which lead us to realize that there are many “Birthings” of certain of these characteristics which shall take place in our personal lives at different points along the “Way” that leadeth unto Life.

“And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father (Gen 49:1-3).”

These were the blessings of Jacob upon his twelve Sons; notice carefully that these were “Prophetic Blessings” for the “Last Days;” In other words, these blessings would be realized in the various characteristics which would surface among the “Sons of Israel” during the Last days, also known as “Church Age.” Since Christ was manifested and crucified in the “Middle of the (Prophetic) Week,” everything which takes place subsequent to that time is called the “Last Days.”

Editor’s Note: The Hyperlinks lead to the ASV Scripture references, but can be changed at the user’s discretion to either KJV, Webster’s, Darby’s, Weymouth’s, Young’s Literal Translation, RSV, BBE, or the Latin Vulgate Version.

Principles of Simeon and Levi

(Gen 49:5) “Simeon[1] and Levi[2] are brethren[3]; instruments of cruelty[4] are in their habitations.”

Gen 49:5: Beyond the Realm of the Outer Court (Reuben experience of basic salvation) there lies the experience of Baptism in Jesus’ Name and the infilling of the Holy Ghost; It is these two experiences (or, Stages of Salvation) which seem to be personified most in Simeon (“He who Hears” by Revelation) and in Levi (He who is Joined – As in one who is Filled with the Spirit.. See 1Cor 6:17). Unfortunately, this place (known as “Second Heaven”) can be a realm of much heartache and grief; In fact Pentecostal folks have the potential (Like Two-Edged Swords) of being some of the meanest and cruelest of any Christians anywhere. We need to take a close look at why God offers us something better beyond just being Baptized in water and filled with the Spirit. Not all Israel are of Israel (Rom 9:6), and not all Pentecostals are true Pentecostals; God fills us with His Spirit, not just so we can feel good and run the isles in church. He wants us to learn by the Spirit how to overcome sin, sickness, the devil, and our own carnal minds.. We need to go beyond water baptism and speaking in tongues to do this.. See Heb 6:1-3

1 “SIMEON”: The SECOND SON of Jacob. “He who Hears” “Shama, Yis’Ray-el.. Hear O’ Israel (See Deut 6:4)…” Leah, his mother said at his birth; “Because the LORD hath HEARD that I was hated (or, Loved less), he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon (Gen 29:33).” As “Simon Peter (Simeon)” in the New Testament, who “Heard” the inaudible voice of God (See Mat 16:17) Simeon is the O.T. counterpart. Faith cometh by “Hearing (See Rom 10:17).”

2 “LEVI”: The THIRD SON of Jacob.. “Joined” His mother Leah said at his birth; “Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi (Gen 29:34).” The Levite was to be Joined, United, He who is “One” with both God and man. A “Daysman,” or Mediator between both parties, able to touch man for God, and touch God for man. ONE SPIRIT: See 1Cor 6:17

3 “BRETHREN”: Like twins: of a common mother and father. The same spirit.

4 “INSTRUMENTS OF CRUELTY”: Violence: See Mat 11:12 Literally the “Vile (Violent)” take the Kingdom by force. “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein (Luke 18:17). A little child does not “Take” his inheritance, he “Receives” it.

(Gen 49:6) “O my soul, come not thou into their secret[1]; unto their assembly[2], mine honour[3], be not thou united[4]: for in their anger[5] they slew[6] a man, and in their selfwill[7] they digged down a wall[8].”

1 “SECRET”: Secret Assembly: Soul, Don’t get involved with these troublemakers!!

2 “ASSEMBLY”: Company, congregation, multitude..

3 “MINE HONOUR”: Lit. “Weight (Eternal Weight of Glory – See 2Cor 4:17)” but only in a good sense, splendor or copiousness:–glorious (-ly), glory, honour (-able), virtue.

4 “BE NOT UNITED”: 3161. yachad, yaw-khad’; a prim. root; to be (or become) one:–join, Be not United in their Rebellion… Don’t let these become united in their treachery against their fellow man.

5 “ANGER”: Nose, Nostril.. Their nose was “Bent out of shape,” so to speak.

6 “SLEW”: This is the reference to the murder of the men of Shechem because they had defiled their sister Dinah. See Gen 34:1-30 It is also a Prophetic picture of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. How many times (on a daily basis, even) have such as these Crucified the Son of God afresh (See Heb 6:6)??

7 “SELFWILL”: Strong’s # 7522. delight (espec. as shown):–(be) acceptable, delight, desire, favour, good pleasure, (own, self, voluntary) will. See Zech 4:6; Luke 22:42.

8 “WALL”: They had broken a covenant (A Spiritual “Wall”) sealed with blood. They covenanted with the men of Shechem to live peaceably with them, if they would agree to be circumcised and serve the LORD, and then Murdered them on the third day after their circumcision (See Gen 34:25). A Broken covenant is a Broken Wall. See Ezra 4:13; Isa 26:1 Keepers of the walls (Song of Sol) Cant 5:7

(Gen 49:7) “Cursed[1] be their anger[2], for it was fierce[3]; and their wrath[4], for it was cruel[5]: I will divide[6] them in Jacob, and scatter[7] them in Israel.”

1 “CURSED”: bitterly curse. Unblessed..

2 “THEIR ANGER”: 639. ‘aph, af; from H599; prop. the nose or nostril; hence the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire:–anger, nose, nostril,

3 “IT WAS FIERCE”: 5794. ‘az, az; from H5810; strong, vehement, harsh:–fierce, + greedy, mighty, power, roughly, strong, INFLEXIBLE.

4 “WRATH”: 5678. ‘ebrah, eb-raw’; fem. of H5676; an outburst of passion:–anger, rage, wrath, uncontrolled rage.

5 “CRUEL”: 7185. qashah, kaw-shaw’; a prim. Root: to be dense, i.e. tough (er) or severe, to be (more) cruel, to be fiercer, make more grievous, be sore, to be stiff necked.

6 “DIVIDE”: 2505. chalaq, khaw-lak’; a prim. root; to be smooth (fig.); by impl. (as smooth stones were used for lots) to apportion or separate:–deal, distribute, divide, part, take away a portion, separate self.

7 “SCATTER”: 6327. puwts, poots; a prim. root; to dash in pieces, lit. or fig. (espec. to disperse):–break (dash, shake) in (to) pieces, cast (abroad), disperse (selves), drive, retire, scatter (abroad), spread abroad.

Moses’ Blessing upon Levi
Deut 33:8-11

Note: Keep in mind that these are the blessings promised to those who walk as one who is truly “Joined to the Lord.” The “THIRD SON (as He that is PERFECTED),” Who is One Spirit See 1Cor 6:17, 12:13; Eph 2:18, 4:4; Phil 1:27.

(Deut 33:8) “And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim[1] and thy Urim[2] be with thy holy[3] one, whom thou didst prove[4] at Massah[5], and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah[6];”

1 “THUMMIM”: Strong’s # 8550. Tummiym, toom-meem’; plur. of H8537; perfections, i.e. (techn.) one of the epithets of the objects (Stones) in the high-priest’s breastplate as an emblem of complete Truth:–Thummim. Gen 17:1; Job 1:1; Pss 37:37; Mat 5:48; Heb 6:1.

2 “URIM”: 224. ‘Uwriym, oo-reem’; plur. of H217; lights; Urim, the oracular brilliancy of the figures in the high-priest’s breastplate:–Urim. Divine LIGHT (of Revelation) Luke 11:34-36; Rev 22:5

3 “HOLY ONE”: 2623. chaciyd, khaw-seed’; from H2616; prop. kind, i.e. (religiously) pious (a saint):–godly (man), good, holy (one), merciful, saint, [un-] godly. See Deut 6:4; Pss 78:41; 1Tim 2:5

4 “PROVE”: 5254. nacah, naw-saw’; a prim. root; to test; by impl. to attempt:–adventure, assay, prove, to be tempted, tried.

5 “MASSAH”: See Exod 17:1-5

6 “MERIBAH”: See Exod 17:6-7

(Deut 33:9) “Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.”

Deut 33:9: See Mat 12:48-49, Exod 32:25-28

A Pot of Gold in the Most Holy Place

There is an old Irish legend about a “Pot of Gold” at the end of the “Rainbow.” I am sure you have heard this, but do you know why the Irish believe it?? Because Ire-Land (or, Angry Land) is the modern home of the Ancient Levitical Priesthood. The Priests knew about this “Pot of Gold,” it was in the Most Holy Place, at the “End of the Rainbow” of God’s Covenant. It is full of Mannah, which was gathered by the Israelites and kept stored for future generations to behold, and to partake of. All other Mannah perished off the face of the earth, except that which was contained in the “Pot of Gold.”

“Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob (Northern and Southern Ire-Land), and scatter them in Israel (Gen 49:5-7).”

It was the job of Simeon and Levi (The Tribes) to provide the “Fine Twined Linen” for the Priesthood, and the Tabernacle.. Ever hear of “Irish Linen??” Or see the “Fine Twined Kilts, Colours, and Coats of arms, of the Scotch and the Irish “Tribes”?? The English words, “Ire” and “Ish,” mean “Angry-Man.” The Irish (and their full brothers, the Scots) have always been known for their fiery tempers; they lost their tempers many times in the Scriptures, the last time was with Jesus..

(Deut 33:10) “They shall teach[1] Jacob thy judgments[2], and Israel thy law[3]: they shall put incense[4] before thee, and whole[5] burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.”

1 “TO TEACH”: 3384. yarah, yaw-raw’; a prim. root; prop. to flow as water (i.e. to rain); trans. to lay or throw (espec. an arrow. i.e. to shoot); fig. to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to teach:– (+) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, to show, shoot, teach (ing), through. (See 2Chr 26:15) Hos 6:3 “Latter Rain;” The Lord’s Coming as the rain (or, Teaching). Moses said; “My doctrine (teaching) shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass (Deut 32:2):”

2 “TEACH JACOB THY JUDGMENTS”: 4941. mishpat, mish-pawt’; from 8199; to show forth a proper verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, a sentence or formal decree divine law, the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty; justice, a right, or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style: + adversary, charge, crime, determination, discretion, judged, judgment, justice, law, manner, measure, due order, ordinance, right, sentence, worthy, wrong. To plainly distinguish between right and wrong. To make plain the Judgment and Counsel of the LORD (See Neh 8:8).

3 “LAW”: 8451. towrah, to-raw’; or torah, to-raw’; from H3384; a precept or statute, espec. the Decalogue or Pentateuch:–law.

4 “PUT INCENSE BEFORE THEE”: 7004. qetoreth, ket-o’-reth; from H6999; Frank (meaning Pure)-Incense, or The Prayers of the Saints. See Rev 8:3-4 (sweet) incense, perfume.

5 “WHOLE BURNT SACRIFICE”: 3632. kaliyl, kaw-leel’; from H3634; complete; as noun, the whole (spec. a sacrifice entirely consumed); as adv. fully:–all, every whit, flame, perfect (-ion), utterly, whole burnt offering (sacrifice), wholly. That which is TOTALLY DEDICATED (Committed) unto the LORD. A Baptism (Full Immersion) in FIRE is shown here.

(Deut 33:11) “Bless[1], LORD, his substance[2], and accept[3] the work[4] of his hands: smite[5] through the loins[6] of them that rise[7] against him, and of them that hate[8] him, that they rise not again.”

1 “BLESS”: 1288. barak, baw-rak’; a prim. root; to kneel; by implication: To bless God (as an act of adoration), Cause to be benefited abundantly, altogether copiously, To be absolutely blessed, congratulate, greatly, above measure, indeed, praise, salute.. See 3John 1:2

2 “HIS SUBSTANCE”: 3428. Yesheb’ab, yeh-sheb-awb’; from H3427 and H1; seat of (his) father; His person, Himself, all that pertains to his life, family, and possessions.

3 “ACCEPT”: 7521. ratsah, raw-tsaw’; a prim. root; to be pleased with; satisfy a debt:–(be) accept (-able), accomplish, set affection, approve, consent with, delight (self), enjoy, (be, have a) favour (-able), like, observe, pardon, (be, have, take) please (-ure), reconcile self. See Rom 15:31; 2Cor 5:9; Eph 1:6..

4 “WORK OF HIS HANDS”: Acts or deeds; The work of His hands, The Five-Fold Ministry is in view here.

5 “SMITE”: 4272. machats, maw-khats’; a prim. root; to dash asunder; by implication to crush, smash or violently plunge; fig. to subdue or destroy:–dip, pierce through, smite through, strike through, to grievously wound.

6 “THROUGH THE LOINS”: 4975. mothen, mo’-then; from an unused root mean. to be slender; the waist or small of the back; in the loins (the Groin), side.

7 “THEM THAT RISE AGAINST HIM”: Those who enjoin themselves against Levi: To get up, make good, help, hold up, lift up (again), ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, rise (up) against, rouse up, set (up), make to stand (up), to stir up, strengthen, as to succeed. See Gen 12:3; Luke 10:16.

8 “HATE HIM”: 8130. sane’, saw-nay’; a prim. root; to hate (personally):–enemy, foe, (be) hate (-ful, -r), odious, X utterly.

9 “THAT THEY RISE NOT AGAIN” See Deut 32:43; Isa 26:13-14, 41:10-12; Mark 14:21

Principles of Simeon and Levi  by Robert Burgess

April – 2000

Principles of Simeon and Levi