Remember the story of the daughters of Moab? It's a troubling episode in the Torah where the Israelites succumbed to temptation and idolatry (Numbers 25). According to the biblical narrative, the men of Israel began to have sexual relations with Moabite women, who then invited them to sacrifices to their gods. This led to a plague sent by God, which was only stopped by Phinehas's zealous act.

Moses, it seems, just couldn't let go of Simeon's involvement in this dark chapter. So, when it came time for the final blessings, as recorded in Deuteronomy 33, Simeon was... conspicuously absent. No specific blessing was given. Ouch.

But here's the thing. According to Legends of the Jews, as retold by Ginzberg, Simeon wasn't entirely forgotten. Moses, in a roundabout way, included them in his blessing for Judah. He prayed that God would hear Judah's voice whenever they prayed for Simeon, especially when they were in distress. And he asked that they would have their inheritance in the Holy Land beside Judah. It’s a bit like saying, "I'm not blessing you directly, but I hope your neighbor helps you out."

So, why this near-omission? The text highlights a connection between Simeon and Levi. "Simeon and Levi 'drank out of the same cup,'" the text tells us, meaning they shared a similar nature or destiny. Both tribes were known for their fierce actions, particularly their revenge against the people of Shechem for the rape of their sister Dinah (Genesis 34). They acted together.

But here's where their paths diverged. Levi, eventually, made amends. The tribe of Levi, in their zeal for God, took action against those who worshipped the Golden Calf. It was a Levite, Phinehas, who slew the wicked prince of Simeon and his Midianite mistress, Cozbi. This act, rooted in religious zealotry, actually atoned for the earlier violence in the eyes of God. Levi's actions redeemed them.

As a result, Moses praised and blessed the tribe of Levi. Simeon, however, "added another new one," another sin on top of the old one. As Legends of the Jews emphasizes, Simeon didn’t learn from the past. Because of this, they didn’t earn a blessing.

It’s a powerful reminder: our actions have consequences, not just for ourselves but for generations. And sometimes, even when we think we've been forgotten, a glimmer of hope can still shine through, even if it’s just through the kindness of a neighbor. Maybe that’s enough.