one of the 12 tribes of Israel that in biblical times comprised the people of Israel who later became the Jewish people. The tribe was named after the second son born to Jacob and his first wife, Leah.

Following the Exodus out of Egypt and the death of Moses, Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land and divided the new territory among the 12 tribes. Though sources do not clearly indicate where the tribe of Simeon settled, it seems to have been in the south of Palestine beyond the powerful tribe of Judah. In time, part of the tribe of Simeon was apparently absorbed by Judah, while other members possibly relocated in the north. After the death of King Solomon (922 BC), Palestine split into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. If the tribe of Simeon is counted among the tribes that formed the northern kingdom, then it too was assimilated by other peoples after the Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians in 721 BC. One way or another, the tribe of Simeon disappeared from history and is thus numbered among the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel (q.v.).