Reuben (Genesis 29:31–32; Genesis 30:14–16; Genesis 35:21–23; Genesis 37:18–30; Genesis 42:21–22; Genesis 42:36–38; Genesis 46:8–9; Genesis 48:5; Genesis 49:3–4; 1 Chronicles 5:1–2)

Firstborn of Jacob and Leah

The first son of Jacob and Leah, who brought mandrakes to his mother, lay with Bilhah his father's concubine, delivered Joseph out of his brothers' hand, offered his two sons as pledge for Benjamin, and heard Jacob say he should not have the pre-eminence.

Genesis says of Leah's first son, “she called his name Reuben: for she said, Because Jehovah hath looked upon my affliction: for now my husband will love me” (Genesis 29:32). In the days of wheat harvest he “found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah” (Genesis 30:14). The next notice of him is brief: “while Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard of it” (Genesis 35:22). The same list calls him “Reuben, Jacob’s first-born” (Genesis 35:23).

When his brothers conspired to slay Joseph, “Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, Let us not take his life” (Genesis 37:21). He told them to cast Joseph into the pit, “that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father” (Genesis 37:22). Afterward he “returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes” (Genesis 37:29). Years later in Egypt he reminded his brothers, “Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear?” (Genesis 42:22), and he said to Jacob, “Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee” (Genesis 42:37). Jacob answered, “My son shall not go down with you” (Genesis 42:38).

Jacob's last words to him begin, “Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength” (Genesis 49:3), and go on, “Boiling over as water, thou shalt not have the pre-eminence” (Genesis 49:4). First Chronicles adds that “his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel” (1 Chronicles 5:1). Scripture does not record Reuben's death.

Strengths

• Sought to restore Joseph to his father
• Spoke against shedding his brother's blood

Weaknesses

• Lay with his father's concubine
• Boiling over as water

Themes

• The firstborn
• Joseph and the pit
• Guilt remembered
• A pledge refused
• The birthright given away

Born to Leah (Genesis 29:31–32)

Leah conceives and bears a son, calls his name Reuben, and says the LORD has looked upon her affliction.

Mandrakes from the field (Genesis 30:14–16)

Reuben finds mandrakes in the wheat harvest and brings them to his mother Leah; Rachel asks for some, and Leah says she has hired Jacob with her son's mandrakes.

Lies with Bilhah (Genesis 35:21–23)

While Israel dwells in that land, Reuben lies with Bilhah his father's concubine, and Israel hears of it; he is listed as Jacob's first-born.

Delivers Joseph out of their hand (Genesis 37:18–24)

When the brothers conspire to slay Joseph, Reuben speaks against shedding blood and proposes the pit, meaning to restore him to his father.

Delivers Joseph out of their hand

The brothers saw Joseph afar off, and “they conspired against him to slay him” (Genesis 37:18). They said, “Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into one of the pits” (Genesis 37:20).

“And Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, Let us not take his life. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood; cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him: that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father” (Genesis 37:21-22).

The brothers stripped Joseph of his coat and cast him into the pit, which “was empty, there was no water in it” (Genesis 37:24).

Returns to the empty pit (Genesis 37:25–30)

After Joseph is sold, Reuben returns to the pit, finds him gone, rends his clothes, and asks his brothers where he shall go.

Reminds his brothers in Egypt (Genesis 42:21–22)

In Egypt the brothers say they are guilty concerning Joseph, and Reuben answers that he had told them not to sin against the child.

Reminds his brothers in Egypt

The brothers were in distress in Egypt, and “they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us” (Genesis 42:21).

“And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore also, behold, his blood is required” (Genesis 42:22).

Offers his two sons as pledge (Genesis 42:36–38)

Jacob will not send Benjamin down; Reuben offers his own two sons, and Jacob answers that his son shall not go.

Offers his two sons as pledge

Jacob said, “Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me” (Genesis 42:36).

“And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again” (Genesis 42:37).

Jacob replied, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left” (Genesis 42:38).

Jacob's words on the firstborn (Genesis 49:3–4; 1 Chronicles 5:1–2)

Jacob names Reuben his first-born and his might, then says he shall not have the pre-eminence because he went up to his father's bed; Chronicles says the birthright was given to the sons of Joseph.

Jacob's words on the firstborn

Jacob called his sons to tell them what should befall them in the latter days, and said, “Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength; The pre-eminence of dignity, and the pre-eminence of power. Boiling over as water, thou shalt not have the pre-eminence; Because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; Then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch” (Genesis 49:3-4).

The genealogy of Chronicles says of “Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the first-born; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel” (1 Chronicles 5:1), and adds, “For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the prince; but the birthright was Joseph’s” (1 Chronicles 5:2).

Jacob (Genesis 35:22; Genesis 42:37–38; Genesis 49:3–4)

His father, who heard of the matter with Bilhah, refused his pledge, and said he should not have the pre-eminence.

Leah (Genesis 29:32; Genesis 30:14)

His mother, who named him and to whom he brought the mandrakes.

Bilhah (Genesis 35:22)

His father's concubine, with whom Reuben lay.

Joseph (Genesis 37:21–22; Genesis 37:29–30; Genesis 42:22)

Reuben delivered him out of his brothers' hand and later said that his blood was required.

Judah (Genesis 29:35; Genesis 37:26–27; 1 Chronicles 5:2)

A son of Leah who proposed selling Joseph to the Ishmaelites; Chronicles says Judah prevailed above his brethren.

Simeon (Genesis 35:23; Genesis 42:36; Genesis 48:5)

A son of Leah named beside Reuben; Jacob counts Ephraim and Manasseh as his own even as Reuben and Simeon.

Major sections

• Genesis 29:31–32
• Genesis 30:14–16
• Genesis 35:21–23
• Genesis 37:18–30
• Genesis 42:21–38
• Genesis 49:1–4
• 1 Chronicles 5:1–2

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