Reuben Facts for 9-13 Year Olds

Categories: Jacob

Reuben is the eldest son of Jacob and his first wife, Leah.
The name, Reuben, might mean, “behold, a son.”
As a boy, he brings mandrakes from the field to his mother. (A mandrake was called the “love apple.”)
In Genesis 35:22, Reuben “went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine;…)
According to 1 Chronicles 5:1, because of that, his birthright is given to the sons of Joseph.
According to Genesis 37:3-4, all the brothers felt jealousy and resentment toward Joseph.
Yet, when the brothers decide to kill Joseph, Reuben wants to save him (see Genesis 37:21).
Unfortunately, his brothers sell Joseph into slavery.
When Joseph demands to see Benjamin, Reuben convinces Jacob to let him go (see Genesis 42:37).
Jacob’s deathbed blessing to Reuben is: “…you are my firstborn, my might, the first fruits of my vigor, excelling in rank and excelling in power. Unstable as water, you shall no long excel, because you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it” (see Genesis 49:3-4).
Jacob recognizes Reuben’s good and bad qualities.
Reuben is the leader of the Tribe of Reuben.
According to Genesis 46:9, Reuben has four sons: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. Reuben goes with Jacob and his family to Egypt.
His descendants are among those who leave with Moses in search of the Promised Land.
When the lands are allocated, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh opt to stay east of the Jordan River.
They have very large flocks and herds, and the land is well suited for livestock.
Ultimately, this decision extends God’s blessings beyond the land of promise.
Because they live apart, they are soon isolated from the other tribes.
A few Reubenites are still around in the 9th century BCE, as noted in II Kings.
These three tribes are also the first to be conquered by the Assryians.
Rabbinic literature states that Reuben dies at the age of 125.