Category:Reuben (subject)
According to Jewish (Christian, and Islamic) traditions, Reuben was one of the Twelve Patriarchs, the first and eldest son of Jacob with Leah, and the forefather of the Tribe of Reuben.
< Twelve Patriarchs -- Jacob -- Leah -- Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs -- Twelve Tribes -- Tribe of Reuben >
Overview
Reuben is a literary character in the early Jewish tradition. According to the Mosaic Torah, Reuben was the first and eldest son of Jacob with Leah.
There are three narratives in which Reuben plays some role.
In Gen 30:14ff the mandrakes he found in the field were instrumental in helping his mother Leah to trade them with Rachel, so that she could lay with Jacob again and bear other children.
In Gen 35:22 Reuben is said to have laid with Bilhah, Rachel's maid and his father's concubine, and that Jacob "heard of it."
In the story of Joseph, Reuben was the one who convinced the other brothers not to kill Joseph, but to put him into a pit; he wanted to rescue him and was upset when the brothers sold Joseph in his absence. Later, in Egypt, Reuben would remind his brothers of his warnings and when Simeon was taken hostage by Joseph, he offered his two sons to Jacob as hostages in exchange for the life of Simeon and Benjamin.
Finally, Genesis 46:9 claims that Reuben had four sons: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. The name of his wife/wives are not given.
The Blessing of Jacob praises the strength of Reuben but also states that Reuben lost his "primacy" as he defiled his father's bed (Gen 49:3-4).
Reuben in Second Temple Jewish Interpretation
Chronicles (4th cent. BCE) claims that because Reuben defiled his father's bed, the "birthright" went to Joseph and "Judah became prominent among his brothers and a ruler (i.e. David) came from him" (1 Chr 5:1-3).
In Philo Reuben is the symbol of goodness of disposition.
Reuben in Later Rabbinic and Christian Traditions
Reuben in ancient sources
Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs
Reuben in literature & the arts
- Reuben (arts) -- survey of fictional works
Reuben in scholarship
- Reuben (research) -- survey of scholarly works
References
- / [[]] / In: The Anchor Bible Dictionary (1992 Freedman), dictionary,
External links
Pages in category "Reuben (subject)"
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