REUBEN

Behold, a son! The eldest son of Jacob and Leah, so-called in reference to the sentiment of his mother, "The Lord hath looked on my affliction," Ge 29:32. Reuben, having defiled his father’s concubine Bilhah, lost his birthright and all the privileges of primogeniture, the preeminence in the family being given to Judah, and the double portion to the two sons of Joseph, Ge 35:22 48:5 49:3,4,8,10 1Ch 5:1,2. He shared in his brother’s jealousy of Joseph, and yet interposed to save his life at Dothan with the design of restoring him privately to his father, Ge 37:18-30. See also his well-meant proposal in Ge 42:27. His tribe was never numerous or powerful in Israel. Dathan, Abiram, and On were members of it. It was the ninth of the tribes in the order of population when they entered Canaan, Nu 1:21 26:7. Their inheritance was the fine pastureland east of the Jordan, between the Arnon on the south and Gilead on the north; it is now called Belka, Nu 32:1-42 Jos 22:1-34. We afterwards find them reproved by Deborah for remissness, Jud 5:15,16. Their position on the frontier exposed them to many assaults from the east, 2Ki 10:33; and they were among the first captives to Assyria, 1Ch 5:26, B. C. 740.

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Reuben. Reuben
Behold a son!, the eldest son of Jacob and Leah (Gen. 29:32). His sinful conduct, referred to in Gen. 35:22, brought down upon him his dying father’s malediction (48:4). He showed kindness to Joseph, and was the means of saving his life when his other brothers would have put him to death (37:21,22). It was he also who pledged his life and the life of his sons when Jacob was unwilling to let Benjamin go down into Egypt. After Jacob and his family went down into Egypt (46:8) no further mention is made of Reuben beyond what is recorded in ch. 49:3,4.

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Reuben. who sees the son; the vision of the son

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REUBEN. → Son of Jacob Ge 29:32; 1Ch 2:1 → Brings mandrakes (an aphrodisiac) to his mother Ge 30:14 → Commits incest with one of his father' s concubines, and, in consequence, forfeits his birthright Ge 35:22; 49:4; 1Ch 5:1 → Adroitly seeks to save Joseph from the conspiracy of his brothers Ge 37:21-30; 42:22 → Jacob' s prophetic benediction upon Ge 49:3,4 → His children Ge 46:9; Ex 6:14; 1Ch 5:3-6; Nu 16:1

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son of Jacob and Leah Ge 29:32; 30:14; 35:22; 37:21; 42:22,37; 49:3