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Exodus 6:15 - Shim'on's hidden lineage revealed?

Exodus 6:15 - שמות 6:15

Hebrew Text

וּבְנֵי שִׁמְעוֹן יְמוּאֵל וְיָמִין וְאֹהַד וְיָכִין וְצֹחַר וְשָׁאוּל בֶּן־הַכְּנַעֲנִית אֵלֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹת שִׁמְעוֹן׃

English Translation

And the sons of Shim῾on, Yemu᾽el and Yamin, and Ohad, and Yakhin, and Żoĥar, and Sha᾽ul the son of the Kena῾anite woman; these are the families of Shim῾on.

Transliteration

Uvnei Shim'on Yemu'el v'Yamin v'Ohad v'Yakhin v'Tzochar v'Shaul ben-hakna'anait eleh mishpachot Shim'on.

Hebrew Leining Text

וּבְנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֗וֹן יְמוּאֵ֨ל וְיָמִ֤ין וְאֹ֙הַד֙ וְיָכִ֣ין וְצֹ֔חַר וְשָׁא֖וּל בֶּן־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֑ית אֵ֖לֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃
וּבְנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֗וֹן יְמוּאֵ֨ל וְיָמִ֤ין וְאֹ֙הַד֙ וְיָכִ֣ין וְצֹ֔חַר וְשָׁא֖וּל בֶּן־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֑ית אֵ֖לֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת שִׁמְעֽוֹן׃

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Parasha Commentary

Introduction to the Verse

This verse from Bereishit (Genesis) 46:10 lists the sons of Shimon, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, who descended to Egypt with Yaakov Avinu. The mention of Shaul as the son of "the Canaanite woman" raises questions that are addressed by classical commentators.

Rashi's Commentary

Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) explains that "the Canaanite woman" does not mean that Shaul's mother was an actual Canaanite, as intermarriage with Canaanites was forbidden. Rather, the term "Canaanite" here refers to Dinah, Shimon's sister, who was taken by Shechem (a Canaanite prince). Thus, Shaul was the son of Dinah, and the Torah refers to her as "the Canaanite woman" because of her association with Shechem's household (Rashi on Bereishit 46:10, citing Midrash).

Midrashic Interpretation

The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 80:11) elaborates that Shimon married Dinah after the incident with Shechem, and Shaul was their son. The term "Canaanite" is used to allude to Dinah's suffering at the hands of the Canaanites, rather than indicating her lineage.

Ramban's Perspective

Ramban (Nachmanides) offers an alternative explanation, suggesting that "the Canaanite woman" may refer to a woman from the land of Canaan, but not necessarily from the prohibited nations. He notes that the term "Canaanite" can sometimes refer broadly to inhabitants of the region, not exclusively the idolatrous nations (Ramban on Bereishit 46:10).

Significance of the Names

  • Yemuel – From the root "yam" (day), possibly indicating a new beginning.
  • Yamin – Means "right hand," symbolizing strength.
  • Ohad – Related to unity ("echad"), possibly reflecting Shimon's role in the brothers' unity.
  • Yakhin – Means "he will establish," suggesting stability.
  • Tzochar – Means "brightness" or "whiteness," possibly alluding to purity.
  • Shaul – Means "asked for," perhaps indicating Dinah's longing for redemption after her suffering.

Families of Shimon

The verse concludes by stating that these were the families of Shimon, emphasizing that despite Shaul's unusual lineage, he was fully integrated into the tribe. This teaches that even those born from difficult circumstances are legitimate members of Klal Yisrael (Talmud, Sanhedrin 58b).

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who were the sons of Shimon listed in Exodus 6:15?
A: The Torah lists six sons of Shimon: Yemuel, Yamin, Ohad, Yakhin, Zohar, and Shaul (who is noted as the son of a Canaanite woman). These became the founding families of the tribe of Shimon (Rashi on Exodus 6:15).
Q: Why is Shaul called 'the son of the Canaanite woman' in Exodus 6:15?
A: Rashi explains that Shaul was the son of Dinah (daughter of Yaakov) and a Canaanite man named Shechem (based on Genesis 34). The Torah calls him 'son of the Canaanite woman' to emphasize his maternal lineage, as Dinah was temporarily married to a Canaanite (Rashi on Exodus 6:15; see also Bereshit Rabbah 80:11).
Q: What happened to the family of Ohad mentioned in Exodus 6:15?
A: The Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 1:7) notes that Ohad's family line did not continue, as his name does not appear later in tribal counts. Some commentaries suggest this may relate to the tribe of Shimon's later involvement in the sin of Baal Peor (Numbers 25), where many perished.
Q: Why does the Torah list the sons of Shimon in Exodus 6:15?
A: This listing establishes the tribal structure of Israel before the Exodus. The Ramban explains that these genealogies demonstrate how the 70 souls who descended to Egypt (Genesis 46) multiplied into a nation, fulfilling Hashem's promise to Avraham (Exodus 1:7). Each family name represents a future clan in Israel.
Q: How does Exodus 6:15 connect to the larger Exodus narrative?
A: This verse is part of the genealogy section (Exodus 6:14-25) that reaffirms the tribal identities of Israel before the redemption from Egypt. The Talmud (Sotah 11a) teaches that maintaining family purity and identity in Egypt helped preserve the Jewish people, making them worthy of redemption.