Jacob's Dozen: Reuben and his Tribe

Genealogy: The 12 sons of Jacob (Israel), The 12 Tribes of Israel.

In order of birth: Reuben, Simeon, Levi. Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin.

Genesis Ch. 29

Laban (Laban is the Brother of Rebekah, Jacob's Mother), had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.”
And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”
So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.
Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast. 
Now it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?”
And Laban said, “It must not be done so in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.  Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years.”
Then Jacob did so and fulfilled her week. So he gave him his daughter Rachel as wife also. Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.

Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah as a maid & gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as a maid.

The Children of Jacob (By Leah):

When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.  So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The Lord has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.” 
Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.”
And she called his name Simeon.
She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.”
Therefore his name was called Levi.
And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
Jacob’s Last Words to His Sons Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah (Son's of Leah):

Reuben "See, a Son" or Reuben in Hebrew:

So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The Lord has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.” Genesis 29:32

Genesis 49:3-4

“Reuben, you are my firstborn,
My might and the beginning of my strength,
The excellency of dignity and the excellency of power.
Unstable as water (would characterize his descendants), you shall not excel,
Because you went up to your father’s bed;
Then you defiled it—
He went up to my couch."

Deuteronomy 21:17
But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

Jacob had 12 Son's, he divided his inheritance into 13 parts, the firstborn received twice the amount received by each of his brothers. By right, Reuben's (Jacob's Firstborn Son), inheritance was double but, he did not receive that which should have been his. The Firstborn Son in Ancient Israel was to be the natural leader of his brothers.
Reuben (along with Ishmael and Esau), received neither the double inheritance nor the leadership role.

"Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright..." 1 Chronicles 5:1

Genesis 35:22 "And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine; and Israel heard about it."

Bilhah (Maidservant of Rachel, Jacob's 2nd Wife): These were the sons born to Jacob by Bilhah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Rachel, Dan and Naphtali (Genesis 46).

The Blessing, Privileges and/or Responsibilities earned by right (birthright), of Firstborn Status was withheld, the refuse to give that which was due to the following:

*Reuben, the firstborn of Israel—he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed his birthright was given to the Sons of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh).

*Esau (Edom), the firstborn of Isaac—he was indeed the firstborn, but because he sold His Birthright (for some Stew), and despised his birthright, Jacob Took Esau’s Blessing (Genesis 25:29-34, Chapter 27).

*Ishmael, the firstborn of Abraham—he was indeed the firstborn, but because he was born according to the flesh (by the slave woman), and Isaac was born because of the promise (by the free woman), the child of the promise was regarded as offspring.
(Romans 9:8; Galatians 4:23).

"The older will serve the younger." Genesis 25

Cross References:

Matthew 19:30
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
Mark 10:31
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."
Luke 13:30
And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last."

“And brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death." Mt. 10:21

Persecutors are worse than beasts, in that they prey upon those of their own kind. The strongest bonds of love and duty, have often been broken through from enmity against Christ. Sufferings from friends and relations are very grievous; nothing cuts more. It appears plainly, that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution; and we must expect to enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations. -Matthew Henry

Reconciled Relationships:

Esau & Jacob:
Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. (Genesis 27)

Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau. Jacob Prays, "Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me." (Genesis 32)

Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. (Genesis 33)

Joseph & his Brothers:
Joseph was sold into slavery because his brothers hated him because their father loved him more than the rest of them. Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. (Genesis 37)

Joseph Makes Himself Known (God made Joseph Ruler of all Egypt). Joseph kissed all his brothers and wept over them. When Joseph appeared before his father, he threw his arms around him and wept for a long time. (Genesis 45-46)

The Death of Jacob, results in Joseph Reassuring His Brothers, Afraid Joseph will hold a grudge against them and pay them back for all the wrongs they did to him. He reassures them, “Don’t be afraid... You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 49-50)

The Tribe of Rueben: Jacob's Prophecy Foretold, Reuben "Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel"

*Korah’s Rebellion Numbers 16; Jude 11):

This group questioned the leadership of Moses and Aaron, and God's judgment upon them was swift and sure---

Now Korah a Levite (the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi), and Dathan and Abiram  Reubenites (the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben), took men. And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron...

As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open... (Numbers 16)

Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. (Jude 11)

MacArthur Bible Commentary:

Woe. Is declaring ultimate spiritual judgment on apostates. Jude followed the example of the prophets  (Isa. 5:8-23), and of Christ (Mt. 23:13, 15-16, 23, 25, 27, 29). The severest judgment of all (Hebrews  10:26), will come on apostates because they, too, followed Balaam, and Korah.

Way of Cain. Cain opening rebelled against God's revealed will regarding sacrifice.

*Reuben joins Gad and half of Manasseh (The Transjordan Tribes) Numbers 32:

The tribes of Reuben and Gad desired to live in the land already conquered because they possessed many herds of livestock and the land was good for grazing. Moses gave them, along with the half tribe of Manasseh, portions of the land only on the condition that they would fully participate in the conquest of Canaan. 

*Moses Blesses the Tribes:

Here is a the prayer that this tribe would survive in large numbers (Numbers 1:21; 2:11). 

By the time Moses blessed the tribes before he died, Reuben may have been in danger of extinction, since Moses prayed, "Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few." Dt. 33:6 

"Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand."
Rev. 7:5

MacArthur Bible Commentary:

Rev. 7:4 One hundred and forty-four thousand.
Redeemed Jews who are instrumental in the salvation of many Jews and Gentiles during The Tribulation (Rev. 7:9-17).
They will be the first fruits of a new redeemed Israel Rev. 7:4; Zech. 12:10).
Finally, Israel  will be the witness nation she refused to be in the OT (Romans 11:25-27).

All the Tribes of the children of Israel.
By sovereign election, God will seal 12,000 from each of the 12 Tribes, promising His protection while they accomplish their mission.

Reuben produced not one single Prophet, Military Leader, Judge, or important person in the history of Israel. "Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel." Reuben lost his birthright and leadership position because of his instability.

James 1:8 " he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

MacArthur Bible Commentary:

Double-Minded man. A literal translation of the Greek expression that denotes having one's mind or soul divided between God and the world.

William Varner says, "He later saved Joseph's life from the murderous plot of the other jealous brothers."

“Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.” When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. "Let’s not take his life,” he said. “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father. (Genesis 37)

The good deed would not right his wrongs... "But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul."

To be continued...

Simeon and Levi (Partners in crime).