Reuben

Firstborn son of Jacob and Leah. Ancestor of the tribe of Reuben, one of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Loss of Birthright

Despite being the firstborn, Reuben lost his birthright due to an incident with Bilhah, his father’s concubine (Genesis 35:22). Jacob’s blessing in Genesis 49 reflects this: “Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence.”

Character

Reuben is portrayed positively in some respects. He attempted to save Joseph from his brothers’ plot (Genesis 37:21-22) and later offered his own sons as surety for Benjamin (Genesis 42:37).

Tribe

The tribe of Reuben settled east of the Jordan River. They were among the first to receive their territorial inheritance but were also criticized for not fully supporting their brothers in the conquest of Canaan.