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, and scatter them in Israel. – Gen. 49:5-7
Due to the combined efforts of Levi and Simeon to avenge the dishonor of their sister Dinah, Jacob (Israel) links their people together and said that they would be scattered among the Tribes of Israel.
Because of the Igbo priests (Nri and Arochukwu) who operate in the same function as the Levitical priests, we are assured Levi can be found among the Igbo. Thus it stands to reason that since Simeon like Levi was destine to be scattered among Israel and Simeon had a reputation of being warriors or mercenaries for hire, the possibility exists that Simeon can be found among the Igbo, especially seeing as there were many waves of Israelites made their way to Nigeria prior to the Exodus, after the Exodus, after Babylon and during the Assyrian captivity and before and after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
Some of Simeon who were not scattered along with Levi and other various Israeli tribes actually became the Spartans who the Levitical Maccabean warriors called BROTHERS, and they did not just throw that intimate family term around lightly and they never called Gentiles, Non-Hebraic nations their “Brothers.”
And this is the copy of the letters which Jonathan wrote to the Lacedemonians (Spartans): Jonathan the high priest, and the elders of the nation, and the priests, and the other of the Jews, unto the Lacedemonians their brethren send greeting: There were letters sent in times past unto Onias the high priest from Darius, who reigned then among you, to signify that ye are our brethren, as the copy here underwritten doth specify. At which time Onias entreated the ambassador that was sent honourably, and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of the league and friendship. Therefore we also, albeit we need none of these things, that we have the holy books of scripture in our hands to comfort us, Have nevertheless attempted to send unto you for the renewing of brotherhood and friendship, lest we should become strangers unto you altogether: for there is a long time passed since ye sent unto us. We therefore at all times without ceasing, both in our feasts, and other convenient days, do remember you in the sacrifices which we offer, and in our prayers, as reason is, and as it becometh us to think upon our brethren: And we are right glad of your honour. As for ourselves, we have had great troubles and wars on every side, forsomuch as the kings that are round about us have fought against us. Howbeit we would not be troublesome unto you, nor to others of our confederates and friends, in these wars: For we have help from heaven that succoureth us, so as we are delivered from our enemies, and our enemies are brought under foot. For this cause we chose Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater he son of Jason, and sent them unto the Romans, to renew the amity that we had with them, and the former league. We commanded them also to go unto you, and to salute and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of our brotherhood. Wherefore now ye shall do well to give us an answer thereto. And this is the copy of the letters which Oniares sent. Areus king of the Lacedemonians to Onias the high priest, greeting: It is found in writing, that the Lacedemonians and Jews are brethren, and that they are of the stock of Abraham: Now therefore, since this is come to our knowledge, ye shall do well to write unto us of your prosperity. We do write back again to you, that your cattle and goods are our's, and our's are your's We do command therefore our ambassadors to make report unto you on this wise. – I Mac. 12:5-23
