Next followeth the tribe of Simeon, not so much for honours sake, as for a note of reproach. Jacob had pronounced of Simeon and Levi, I will disperse them & scatter them. In deed the penalty 1of Levi was not only mitigated, but also turned into an excellent dignity: because his posterity were placed as it were in a watchtower, to keep the people in their duty of godliness and religion. But, as touching Simeon, that certain cities were given to his posterity within the borders of Judah, this was a manifest dispersion, whereof Jacob had prophesied. Although they were not cast a sunder into places far distant, yet were they but as tenants, and dispersed when they dwelled within the soil of an other tribe. Therefore, for that slaughter which they committed with no less unfaithfulness, than cruelty, they were separated into divers lodgings. By this means the offence of their father was cast into the bosom of his sons, and that sentence which God delivered to his servant, he did execute indeed. Also the trueth of the lot was clearly approved. But whereas a portion is taken away from the tribe of Judah, we see again, that although the overseers of the division, determined most wisely to keep equity: yet they were deceived with an error, which they were not ashamed to correct as soon as it was found out. And it is no absurdity, that although they were ruled by the spirit of God, yet they were deceived in some part: because God sometimes withdraweth from his servants the spirit of judgement, and suffereth them to do one thing or other, like men, that they should not triumph too much in their exceeding great wisdom. Add hereunto, that the people were justly punished for their negligence and careless hastiness: because they should from the beginning have better discussed, what right belonged to every one, which thing they neglected. A large dominion was unskilfully assigned without discretion unto the tribe of Judah, whereof equity constrained them afterward to appoint some part for other tribes. Howbeit, it had ben better, that their certain limits had been set down at the first, than afterward to have some part taken away with their grief. Moreover, every one presumed with vain hope, that they should have large & wide possessions, as though the land had stretched forth it self ⟨image 88⟩without end.
Next followeth the tribe of Simeon, not so much for honours sake, as for a note of reproch. Iacob had pronounced of Simeon and Leui, I will disperse them & scatter them. In deede the penaltie 1of Leui was not onely mitigated, but also turned into an excellent dignitie: because his posteritie were placed as it were in a watchtowre, to keepe the people in their duetie of godlinesse and religion. But, as touching Simeon, that certeine cities were geuen to his posteritie within the borders of Iuda, this was a manifest dispersion, whereof Iacob had prophesied. Although they were not cast a sunder into places farre distant, yet were they but as tenantes, and dispersed when they dwelled within the soyle of an other tribe. Therefore, for that slaughter which they committed with no lesse vnfaithfulnesse, than crueltie, they were separated into diuers lodgings. By this meanes the offence of their father was cast into the bosome of his sonnes, and that sentence which God deliuered to his seruant, he did execute indeede. Also the trueth of the lotte was clerely approued. But whereas a portion is taken away from the tribe of Iuda, we se againe, that although the ouerseers of the diuision, determined most wisely to keepe equitie: yet they were deceiued with an errour, which they were not ashamed to correct as soone as it was found out. And it is no absurditie, that although they were ruled by the spirit of God, yet they were deceiued in some parte: because God sometimes withdraweth from his seruantes the spirit of iudgement, and suffereth them to doe one thing or other, like men, that they should not triumph too much in their exceeding great wisedome. Adde herevnto, that the people were iustly punished for their negligence and carelesse hastinesse: because they should from the beginning haue better discussed, what right belonged to euerie one, which thing they neglected. A large dominion was vnskilfully assigned without discretion vnto the tribe of Iudah, whereof equitie constrained them afterward to appoint some part for other tribes. Howbeit, it had ben better, that their certeine limits had bene set downe at the first, than afterward to haue some part taken away with their griefe. Moreouer, euerie one presumed with vaine hope, that they shoulde haue large & wide possessions, as though the land had stretched forth it self ⟨image 88⟩without end.
- 1Gen. 49. 7.
