Reuben (רְאוּבֵן, Standard Hebrew Rəʾuven, Tiberian Hebrew Rəʾûḇēn) is the first-born son of Jacob and the founder of the Tribe of Reuben, as related in the Book of Genesis of the Hebrew Bible.

Reuben means "behold a son", and was so named because his mother Leah was hoping that by presenting him to Jacob she would overcome Jacob's preference for his second wife, her younger sister Rachel.

Although part of the plot to kill and later enslave their brother Joseph, it is Reuben who advises the others not to kill Joseph, (Genesis 37:20-22), and who later points out that their troubles in Egypt were the consequence of the plot, (Genesis 42:22). Later he offers his own two sons as surety for the safety of Benjamin, (Genesis 42:37,) in order to more quickly relieve the famine, an offer Jacob refuses. He is probably the wisest and most compassionate of the older brothers.

But as firstborn, Reuben should have been the leader of his brothers, and have taken responsibility for their collective actions, which he fails to do. This justifies the punishment by which his rights as first-born were transferred to the children of Joseph (according to I Chronicles v. 1). His other failing is to commit, what may appear to be incest with Bilhah, but it is not clear exactly what transpired, see Genesis 35:22, 49:3,4.

External link

• Jewish Encyclopedia: Reuben, including his career in Rabbinical and midrash literature.