the tribe of reuben
DESCRIPTION
An investigation into the biblical details on the ancient Israelite tribe of Reuben.TRANSCRIPT
Reuben
Birth Order 1
Meaning of Name Strong’s 7205 R ûwbên, reh-oo-bane’; from the imper. of 7200 ande
1121; see ye a son; Reüben, a son of Jacob:—Reuben.
Mother Leah (weary)
Birth Genesis 29:31–32: 31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated,
He opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. 32 And Leah
conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she
said, “Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore
my husband will love me.”
Gemstone Sardius. See Exodus 28:17 and 39:10.
Encampment
Position
On the south between Simeon and Gad; his standard reflects one
(the man) of the four faces of the cherubim (see Ezekiel 1:10).
Zodiac Sign Aquarius (The Water Bearer)
Position in
Zodiac Story
Sixth sign in the circuit; second of the four signs in the the second
book, The Redeemed. Aquarius reflects blessings assured for the
redeemed. Constellations are Piscis Australis (The Southern Fish,
blessings bestowed), Pegasus (The Winged Horse, blessings quickly
coming), and Cygnus (The Swan, the Blesser surely returning).
Jacob’s Blessing
for the Last Days
Genesis 49:3–4: 3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the
beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the
excellency of power: 4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel;
because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it:
he went up to my couch.
Reuben’s Zodiac Sign
Aquarius (The Water Bearer)Second sign in the second book, The Redeemed.
Their blessings ensured, or the living waters
of blessing poured forth for the redeemed.
Aquarius
(The Water Bearer)
Hebrew Name
Hebrew name Deli (Strong’s
1805), a pail or jar for
drawing water. Used in
Numbers 24:7 and Isaiah
40:15. The root of this word
(Strong’s 1802) is used in
Exodus 2:16, Exodus 2:19,
Psalm 30:1, and Proverbs
20:5.
Aquarius—108 Stars
(four of the third magnitude)
á located in the right shoulder and called Sa’ad al Melik, the record of the pouring forth.
â located in the other shoulder and called Saad al Sund, who goeth and returneth, or the pourer
out.
ä located in the lower part of the right leg, Hebrew name Scheat, who goeth and returneth
bright star in the urn has Egyptian name Mon or Meon, an urn.
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Place in the Heavenly Story
The Atonement has been made and blessings have been procured. Blessings can now be
poured forth upon the redeemed. In the sign, a man pours blessings forth from a bucket or
urn to the mouth of a fish. This image is reflected in this promise given to Jacob:
Numbers 24:7: 7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, And his seed shall be in many
waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted.
The image of water pouring or flowing forth is also seen several passages in Isaiah:
Isaiah 32:1–2: 1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in
judgment. 2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the
tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
Isaiah 35:1, 6:1: The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the
desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. . . . 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an
hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and
streams in the desert.
Isaiah 41:18: 18 I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I
will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
Isaiah 44:2, 3, 6: 2 Thus saith the LORD That made thee, and formed thee from the womb,
which will help thee; “Fear not, O Jacob, My servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have
chosen. 3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I
will pour My spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring: 6 Thus saith the
LORD the King of Israel, and his Redeemer the LORD of hosts; “I am the first, and I am the
last; and beside Me there is no God.
The image of the man is symbolic of Christ, the Pourer of blessings. In the last days, He
promises:
Joel 2:28–29: 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My spirit upon all
flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams,
your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in
those days will I pour out My spirit.
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Piscis Australis
(The Southern Fish—The Blessings Bestowed)
Piscis Australis—23 Stars
(one of the first magnitude)
Arabic Fom al Haut, the mouth of the fish, a brilliant star of the first magnitude.
Piscis Australis (see picture of Aquarius with Piscis Australis above) shows the fish,
representing the redeemed for whom Christ’s blessings are intended, receiving the blessings
procured and poured forth by the Man (Christ).
Pegasus
(The Winged
Horse—The Blessings
Quickly Coming)
Pegasus brings the blessings
procured near to those upon
whom they are intended to be
poured and symbolizes He
Who is quickly coming with
them.
Pegasus—89 Stars
(one of the first magnitude, two of the second magnitude, three of the
third magnitude, nine of the fourth magnitude)
á located on the neck of the horse at the junction of the wing, ancient Hebrew
name Markab, returning from afar
â located in the upper right shoulder, Scheat, who goeth and returneth
ã located at the tip of the wing, Arabic Al Genib, who carries
å located in the nostril, Arabic Enif, the branch
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Pegasus—89 Stars
(one of the first magnitude, two of the second magnitude, three of the
third magnitude, nine of the fourth magnitude)
ç located in the near leg, Arabic Matar, who causes to overflow
Homan, the waters
Cygnus
(The Swan—The Blesser
Surely Returning)
The swift and mighty Cygnus re-
emphasizes the lesson of
Pegasus—that the Blesser is coming
quickly and surely to pour forth His
blessings on the redeemed. Its
principal stars form a large cross
considered the most perfect of all
crosses formed by the
constellations.
Cygnus—81 Stars
(one of the first or second magnitude, six of the third magnitude,
twelve of the fourth magnitude, variable stars, five double stars, and
one quadruple star)
á brightest star, located between the body and the tail, Deneb, the judge; and
Adige, flying swiftly
â located in the beak, Arabic Al Bireo, flying quickly
ã located in the body, Hebrew Sadr, who returns as in a circle
ð 1
and ð
2
located in the tail; Azel, who goes and returns quickly, and Fafage, gloriously
shining forth
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Cygnus—81 Stars
(one of the first or second magnitude, six of the third magnitude,
twelve of the fourth magnitude, variable stars, five double stars, and
one quadruple star)
61
Cygni
Considered one of the most wonderful stars in the heavens; consists of two
stars that revolve about each other but have a progressive motion common to
each.
The information in this section was taken from E. W. Bullinger’s The Witness of the Stars
(Kregel Publications, reprint of 1893 ed.) and E. Raymond Capt’s The Glory of the Stars
(Artisan Sales, 1982). See these works for more information on the zodiac.
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Reuben Encamped, Numbered, and At War
Elizur the Head of the House of His Fathers
Numbers 1:3–5: 3 From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in
Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies. 4 And with you there shall be a
man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers. 5 And these are the names
of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.
46,500 Able to Go Forth to War
Numbers 1:20–21: 20 And the children of Reuben, Israel’s eldest son, by their generations,
after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names,
by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth
to war; 21 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and
six thousand and five hundred.
Encampment on the South
Numbers 2:10–11; 16: 10 On the south side shall
be the standard of the camp of Reuben
according to their armies: and the captain of the
children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of
Shedeur. 11 And his host, and those that were
numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand
and five hundred. 16 All that were numbered in
the camp* of Reuben were an hundred thousand
and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and
fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set
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forth in the second rank.
*The camp of Reuben included all the tribes encamped on the south (Simeon, Reuben, and Gad).
Reuben’s Order in the Wilderness Journeyings of Israel
Numbers 10:12–28: 12 And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of
Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. 13 And they first took their journey
according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 14 In the first place went
the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his
host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15 And over the host of the tribe of the children
of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 16 And over the host of the tribe of the children
of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. 17 And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons
of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle. 18 And the standard
of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur
the son of Shedeur. 19 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was
Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 20 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad
was Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 21 And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary:
and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came. 22 And the standard of the
camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host
was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 23 And over the host of the tribe of the children of
Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 24 And over the host of the tribe of the
children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni. 25 And the standard of the camp of
the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their
hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 And over the host of the
tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. 27 And over the host of the tribe
of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 28 Thus were the journeyings of the
children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward.
Reubenite Spy Sent to the Land of Canaan
Numbers 13:1–4: 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 “Send thou men, that they
may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of
their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.” 3 And Moses by the
commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were
heads of the children of Israel. 4 And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben,
Shammua the son of Zaccur.
Numbering in the Plains of Moab—43,730
Numbers 26:3–11: 3 And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab
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by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 4 “Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and
upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of
the land of Egypt.” 5 Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, of
whom cometh the family of the Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the Palluites: 6 Of
Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family of the Carmites. 7 These are the
families of the Reubenites: and they that were numbered of them were forty and three
thousand and seven hundred and thirty. 8 And the sons of Pallu; Eliab. 9 And the sons of
Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were
famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of
Korah, when they strove against the LORD: (10 And the earth opened her mouth, and
swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire
devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.)
11 Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.
40,000 of Reuben, Gad, and Half Tribe of Manasseh Prepare
for War Against Jericho
Joshua 4:11–13: 11 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that
the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people. 12 And the
children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over
armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them: 13 About forty thousand
prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
Reuben’s Territory from Canaanite Conquests
Joshua 12:1–6: 1 Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote,
and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the
river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east: 2 Sihon king of the Amorites,
who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and
from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the
border of the children of Ammon; 3 And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the
east, and unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Beth-
jeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdoth-pisgah: 4 And the coast of Og king of Bashan
(which was of the remnant of the giants) that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei, 5 And
reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the
Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon. 6
Them did Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel smite: and Moses the
servant of the LORD gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the
half tribe of Manasseh.
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Reuben in the Battle Against Sisera (The Song of Deborah and Barak)
Judges 5:14–18: 14 Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee,
Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, And out of Zebulun they
that handle the pen of the writer. 15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even
Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben
there were great thoughts of heart. 16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear
the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of
heart. 17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: And why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued
on the sea shore, And abode in his breaches. 18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that
jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.
War With Hagarites
I Chronicles 5:18–22: 18 The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of
Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and
skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to
the war. 19 And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab. 20
And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and
all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and He was intreated of them;
because they put their trust in Him. 21 And they took away their cattle; of their camels
fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand,
and of men an hundred thousand. 22 For there fell down many slain, because the war was
of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.
Reuben’s Valiant Men in David’s Armies
I Chronicles 11:24–26; 42: 24 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the
name among the three mighties. 25 Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but
attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard. 26 Also the valiant men of
the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 42
Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
Making David King
I Chronicles 12:23, 37: 23 And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed
to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to
the word of the LORD. 37 And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the
Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the
battle, an hundred and twenty thousand.
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Reubenites, Gadites, and the Half Tribe of Manasseh and Assyrian
Captivity
II Kings 10:31–33: 31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with
all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin. 32 In
those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of
Israel; 33 From Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites,
and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.
I Chronicles 5:25–26: 25 And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a
whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them. 26 And
the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser
king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the
half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river
Gozan, unto this day.
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Reuben’s Inheritances
Moses Assigns Reubenites Their Portion in the Promised Land
Numbers 32:1–38: 1 Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great
multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that,
behold, the place was a place for cattle; 2 The children of Gad and the children of Reuben
came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the
congregation, saying, 3 “Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and
Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon, 4 Even the country which the LORD smote before
the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle:” 5
“Wherefore,” said they, “if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy
servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.” 6 And Moses said unto the children
of Gad and to the children of Reuben, “Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?
7 And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the
land which the LORD hath given them? 8 Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from
Kadesh-barnea to see the land. 9 For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw
the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into
the land which the LORD had given them. 10 And the LORD’s anger was kindled the same
time, and He sware, saying,11 ‘Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from
twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac,
and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed Me: 12 Save Caleb the son of
Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the
LORD. 13 And the LORD’s anger was kindled against Israel, and He made them wander in the
wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD,
was consumed. 14 And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers’ stead, an increase of sinful
men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel. 15 For if ye turn away from
after Him, He will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this
people.” 16 And they came near unto him, and said, “We will build sheepfolds here for our
cattle, and cities for our little ones: 17 But we ourselves will go ready armed before the
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children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall
dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return unto
our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance. 19 For we
will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is
fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.” 20 And Moses said unto them, “If ye will do this
thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war, 21 And will go all of you armed over
Jordan before the LORD, until He hath driven out His enemies from before Him, 22 And the
land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before
the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD. 23 But if
ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you
out. 24 Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which
hath proceeded out of your mouth.” 25 And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben
spake unto Moses, saying, “Thy servants will do as my lord commandeth. 26 Our little ones,
our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead: 27 But thy
servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord
saith.” 28 So concerning them Moses commanded Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of
Nun, and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel: 29 And Moses said unto
them, If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over Jordan,
every man armed to battle, before the LORD, and the land shall be subdued before you;
then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession: 30 But if they will not pass over
with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan. 31 And the
children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, “As the LORD hath said unto
thy servants, so will we do. 32 We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of
Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan may be ours.” 33 And
Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and
unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the
Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities thereof in the
coasts, even the cities of the country round about. 34 And the children of Gad built Dibon,
and Ataroth, and Aroer, 35 And Atroth, Shophan, and Jaazer, and Jogbehah, 36 And Beth-
nimrah, and Beth-haran, fenced cities: and folds for sheep. 37 And the children of Reuben
built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim, 38 And Nebo, and Baal-meon, (their names
being changed,) and Shibmah: and gave other names unto the cities which they builded.
Numbers 34:13–15: 13 And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, “This is the
land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes,
and to the half tribe: 14 For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of
their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers,
have received their inheritance; and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their
inheritance: 15 The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this
side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising.”
Deuteronomy 3:12–20: 12 And this land, which we possessed at that time, from Aroer,
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which is by the river Arnon, and half mount Gilead, and the cities thereof, gave I unto the
Reubenites and to the Gadites. 13 And the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, being the
kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half tribe of Manasseh; all the region of Argob, with all
Bashan, which was called the land of giants. 14 (Jair the son of Manasseh took all the
country of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi; and called them after his own
name, Bashan-havoth-jair, unto this day.) 15 And I gave Gilead unto Machir. 16 And unto
the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave from Gilead even unto the river Arnon half the
valley, and the border even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of
Ammon; 17 The plain also, and Jordan, and the coast thereof, from Chinnereth even unto
the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, under Ashdoth-pisgah eastward. 18 And I
commanded you at that time, saying, ‘The LORD your God hath given you this land to
possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all that are
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meet for the war. 19 But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (for I know that
ye have much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have given you; 20 Until the LORD
have given rest unto your brethren, as well as unto you, and until they also possess the land
which the LORD your God hath given them beyond Jordan: and then shall ye return every
man unto his possession, which I have given you.’
The Covenant With Israel in the Land of Moab
Deuteronomy 29:5–9: 5 And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are
not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot. 6 Ye have not eaten
bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the LORD
your God. 7 And when ye came unto this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og the king
of Bashan, came out against us unto battle, and we smote them: 8 And we took their land,
and gave it for an inheritance unto the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half tribe
of Manasseh. 9 Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may
prosper in all that ye do.
Joshua Reminds Reubenites of Moses’ Instruction
Joshua 1:12–18: 12 And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of
Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying, 13 “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the
LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you
this land. 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which
Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the
mighty men of valour, and help them; 15 Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as
He hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth
them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the
LORD'S servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.” 16 And they answered
Joshua, saying, “All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest
us, we will go. 17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken
unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as He was with Moses. 18 Whosoever he be
that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that
thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.”
Joshua Charges Reubenites to Accept Their Inheritance
Joshua 13:7–23: 7 Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes,
and the half tribe of Manasseh, 8 With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received
their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the
servant of the LORD gave them; 9 From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and
the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon; 10 And all
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the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the
children of Ammon; 11 And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and
all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah; 12 All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which
reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did
Moses smite, and cast them out.” 13 Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the
Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the
Israelites until this day. 14 Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the
sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as He said unto
them. 15 And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to
their families. 16 And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon,
and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba; 17 Heshbon, and
all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamoth-baal, and Beth-baal-meon, 18 And
Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath, 19 And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar
in the mount of the valley, 20 And Beth-peor, and Ashdoth-pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth,
21 And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which
reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and
Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country. 22 Balaam
also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among
them that were slain by them. 23 And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan,
and the border thereof. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their
families, the cities and the villages thereof.
Joshua 18:7: 7 But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is
their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their
inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.”
Joshua 22:1–6: 1 Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of
Manasseh, 2 And said unto them, “Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD
commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you: 3 Ye have not
left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the
commandment of the LORD your God. 4 And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto
your brethren, as He promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents,
and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the
other side Jordan. 5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which
Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all His
ways, and to keep His commandments, and to cleave unto Him, and to serve Him with all
your heart and with all your soul.” 6 So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and
they went unto their tents.
Four Levite Cities Assigned to Reuben for Merarites
Joshua 21:7: 7 The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and
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out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
Joshua 21:34–40: 34 And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites,
out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs, 35
Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities. 36 And out of the tribe of
Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs, 37 Kedemoth with her
suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities. 38 And out of the tribe of Gad,
Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with
her suburbs, 39 Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all. 40 So
all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the
families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.
I Chronicles 6:63–64: 63 Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their
families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of
Zebulun, twelve cities. 64 And the children of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with
their suburbs.
I Chronicles 6:77–79: 77 Unto the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe
of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs: 78 And on the other side
Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben,
Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs, and Jahzah with her suburbs, 79 Kedemoth also
with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs:
Bezer, in Reuben’s Land, One of Six Levitical Cities of Refuge
Deuteronomy 4:41–43: 41 Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the
sunrising; 42 That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares,
and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live: 43
Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in
Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.
Joshua 20:8–9: 8 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in
the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the
tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh. 9 These were the cities
appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them,
that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand
of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
(See also Numbers 35.)
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Sealing of the End Times
Revelation 7:5: 5 Of the tribe ofJuda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben
were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
Inheritance at the End of Ezekiel
Ezekiel 48:6–7; 31: 6 And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west
side, a portion for Reuben. 7 And by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the
west side, a portion for Judah. 31 And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the
tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of
Levi.
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Mandrakes
From Smith’s Bible
Dictionary: The
mandrake is now called
Atropa mandragora.
The odor or flavor of
the plant is a matter of
opinion. They have a
delightful smell, and
the taste is agreeable,
though not to
everybody. The
Orientals especially
value strongly smelling
things, that to more delicate senses are
unpleasing. The fruit was ripe at the time of
wheat harvest. From a rude resemblance of old
roots of the mandrake to the human form,
some strange superstitious notions have arisen
concerning it. The leaves are dark green, the
flowers white, with veins of purple, and the
fruit orange, and the size of nutmegs.
From The Companion Bible (note on Genesis
30:14): mandrakes. Sept. mandragora, the root
easily formed, by pinching it, into the shape of
a man. Hence its name; also supposed to be and
used as a “love-philtre.” Arab. = “apples of
Satan.”
Reubenite Stories
Reuben Gives Mandrakes to Leah
Genesis 30:14–18: 14 And Reuben went in the
days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes
in the field, and brought them unto his
mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah,
“Give me, I pray thee, of thy son’s
mandrakes.” 15 And she said unto her, “Is it
a small matter that thou hast taken my
husband? and wouldest thou take away my
son’s mandrakes also?” And Rachel said,
“Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for
thy son’s mandrakes.” 16 And Jacob came
out of the field in the evening, and Leah
went out to meet him, and said, “Thou must
come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee
with my son’s mandrakes.” And he lay with
her that night. 17 And God hearkened unto
Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the
fifth son. 18 And Leah said, “God hath given
me my hire, because I have given my maiden
to my husband:” and she called his name
Issachar.
Reuben Defiles Jacob’s Bed
Genesis 35:22-23: 22 And it came to pass,
when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s
concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: 23 The sons of Leah;
Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
Reuben Defends Joseph from Brothers
Genesis 37:13–36: 13 And Israel said unto Joseph, “Do not thy brethren feed the flock in
Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them.” And he said to him, “Here am I.” 14 And
he said to him, “Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with
the flocks; and bring me word again.” So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he
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came to Shechem. 15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the
field: and the man asked him, saying, “What seekest thou?” 16 And he said, “I seek my
brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.” 17 And the man said, “They
are departed hence; for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” And Joseph went after his
brethren, and found them in Dothan. 18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he
came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. 19 And they said one to
another, “Behold, this dreamer cometh. 20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and
cast him into some pit, and we will say, ‘Some evil beast hath devoured him:’ and we shall
see what will become of his dreams.” 21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of
their hands; and said, “Let us not kill him.” 22 And Reuben said unto them, “Shed no blood,
but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might
rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. 23 And it came to pass, when
Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of
many colours that was on him; 24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit
was empty, there was no water in it. 25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up
their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their
camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. 26 And Judah
said unto his brethren, “What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? 27
Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is
our brother and our flesh.” And his brethren were content. 28 Then there passed by
Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold
Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent
his clothes. 30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, “The child is not; and I,
whither shall I go?” 31 And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and
dipped the coat in the blood; 32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought
it to their father; and said, “This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or
no.” 33 And he knew it, and said, “It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him;
Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.” 34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth
upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters
rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, “For I will go down
into the grave unto my son mourning.” Thus his father wept for him. 36 And the Midianites
sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.
Reuben Blames Brothers
Genesis 42:18–23: 18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, “This do, and live; for I fear
God: 19 If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison:
go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: 20 But bring your youngest brother unto
me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die.” And they did so. 21 And they said
one to another, “We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of
his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon
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us.” 22 And Reuben answered them, saying, “Spake I not unto you, saying, ‘Do not sin
against the child;’ and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.” 23
And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.
Reuben Urges Jacob to Allow Benjamin to Go to Egypt
Genesis 42:37: 36 And Jacob their father said unto them, “Me have ye bereaved of my
children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things
are against me. 37 And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, “Slay my two sons, if I bring
him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.” 38 And he
said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if
mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs
with sorrow to the grave.”
Elizur’s Offering for the Dedicating of the Altar
Numbers 7:1–6; 11; 30–35: 1 And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the
tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the
altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them; 2 That the
princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes,
and were over them that were numbered, offered: 3 And they brought their offering before
the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for
each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle. 4 And the LORD spake unto
Moses, saying, 5 “Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of
the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his
service.” 6 And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. 11
And the LORD said unto Moses, “They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for
the dedicating of the altar.” 30 On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the
children of Reuben, did offer: 31 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an
hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the
sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 32 One
golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 33 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of
the first year, for a burnt offering: 34 One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 35 And for a
sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year:
this was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.
Dathan and Abiram
Numbers 16:1–50: 1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and
Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and
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fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: 3 And they
gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, “Ye
take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the
LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the
LORD?” 4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face: 5 And he spake unto Korah and
unto all his company, saying, “Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are His, and who is
holy; and will cause him to come near unto Him: even him whom He hath chosen will He
cause to come near unto Him. 6 This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company; 7
And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be
that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye
sons of Levi.” 8 And Moses said unto Korah, “Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: 9 Seemeth it
but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation
of Israel, to bring you near to Himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and
to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? 10 And He hath brought thee near
to Him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? 11
For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and
what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?” 12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram,
the sons of Eliab: which said, “We will not come up: 13 Is it a small thing that thou hast
brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness,
except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? 14 Moreover thou hast not brought us
into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and
vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.” 15 And Moses
was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, “Respect not Thou their offering: I have not taken
one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.” 16 And Moses said unto Korah, “Be
thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow: 17 And
take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every
man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his
censer. 18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense
thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.
19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of
the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation. 20 And the
LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 21 “Separate yourselves from among this
congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” 22 And they fell upon their faces,
and said, O GOD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt Thou be
wroth with all the congregation?” 23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24 “Speak
unto the congregation, saying, ‘Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan,
and Abiram.’” 25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of
Israel followed him. 26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, “Depart, I pray you,
from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all
their sins.” 27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every
side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their
wives, and their sons, and their little children. 28 And Moses said, “Hereby ye shall know
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that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own
mind. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the
visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. 30 But if the LORD make a new thing,
and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them,
and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have
provoked the LORD.” 31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these
words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: 32 And the earth opened her
mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto
Korah, and all their goods. 33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive
into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the
congregation. 34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for
they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up also.” 35 And there came out a fire from the LORD,
and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. 36 And the LORD spake
unto Moses, saying, 37 “Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the
censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed. 38 The
censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a
covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed:
and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel. 39 And Eleazar the priest took the
brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad
plates for a covering of the altar: 40 To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no
stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD;
that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.
41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses
and against Aaron, saying, “Ye have killed the people of the LORD.” 42 And it came to pass,
when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked
toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory
of the LORD appeared. 43 And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the
congregation. 44 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 45 “Get you up from among this
congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment.” And they fell upon their faces. 46
And Moses said unto Aaron, “Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put
on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for
there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.” 47 And Aaron took as Moses
commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was
begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.
48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. 49 Now they
that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died
about the matter of Korah. 50 And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.
Deuteronomy 11:1–7: 1 Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep His charge,
and His statutes, and His judgments, and His commandments, alway. 2 And know ye this
day: for I speak not with your children which have not known, and which have not seen the
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chastisement of the LORD your God, His greatness, His mighty hand, and His stretched out
arm, 3 And His miracles, and His acts, which He did in the midst of Egypt unto Pharaoh the
king of Egypt, and unto all His land; 4 And what He did unto the army of Egypt, unto their
horses, and to their chariots; how He made the water of the Red sea to overflow them as
they pursued after you, and how the LORD hath destroyed them unto this day; 5 And what
He did unto you in the wilderness, until ye came into this place; 6 And what He did unto
Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben: how the earth opened her mouth,
and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the substance that
was in their possession, in the midst of all Israel: 7 But your eyes have seen all the great
acts of the LORD which He did.
These Shall Stand Upon Mount Ebal to Curse
Deuteronomy 27:11–15: 11 And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, 12 “These
shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan;
Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin: 13 And these shall
stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
14 And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, 15
‘Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the
LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the
people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’
(See Deuteronomy 27 for the rest of the curses).
Moses’ Blessing to Reuben
Deuteronomy 33:6: 6 “Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.”
Ed—An Altar of Witness
Joshua 22:8–34: 8 And he spake unto them, saying, “Return with much riches unto your
tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron,
and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.” 9 And
the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned,
and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go
unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed,
according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 10 And when they came unto the
borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children
of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.
11 And the children of Israel heard say, “Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of
Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in
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the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel.” 12 And when the children
of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves
together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them. 13 And the children of Israel sent unto the
children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the
land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, 14 And with him ten princes, of each
chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the
house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel. 15 And they came unto the children of
Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of
Gilead, and they spake with them, saying, 16 “Thus saith the whole congregation of the
LORD, ‘What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away
this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel
this day against the LORD? 17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not
cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD, 18 But
that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to
day against the LORD, that to morrow He will be wroth with the whole congregation of
Israel. 19 Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over
unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD’s tabernacle dwelleth, and
take possession among us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building
you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God. 20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah
commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel?
and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.’” 21 Then the children of Reuben and the
children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the
thousands of Israel, 22 “The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, He knoweth, and
Israel He shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not
this day,) 23 That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer
thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD
Himself require it; 24 And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, ‘In
time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, “What have ye to do
with the LORD God of Israel?” ’ 25 For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and
you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your
children make our children cease from fearing the LORD. 26 Therefore we said, ‘Let us now
prepare to build us an altar,’ not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice: 27 But that it may be
a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service
of the LORD before Him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace
offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, ‘Ye have no part
in the LORD.’ 28 Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our
generations in time to come, that we may say again, ‘Behold the pattern of the altar of the
LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness
between us and you.’ 29 God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this
day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for
sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before His tabernacle.” 30 And when
Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of
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Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children
of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them. 31 And Phinehas the son of
Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the
children of Manasseh, “This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not
committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out
of the hand of the LORD.” 32 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes,
returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of
Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again. 33
And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did
not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of
Reuben and Gad dwelt. 34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the
altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God.
Levite Judges and Officers
I Chronicles 26:32: 32 And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven
hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and
the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.
I Chronicles 27:16: 16 Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: the ruler of the Reubenites was
Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah:
Stone of Bohan
Joshua 15:6 [speaking of Judah]: 6 And the border went up to Beth-hogla, and passed along
by the north of Beth-arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of
Reuben:
Joshua 18:17: [speaking of Benjamin’s territory]: 17 And was drawn from the north, and
went forth to En-shemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth, which is over against the going
up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben,
Smith's Bible Dictionary: "Bo'han, a Reubenite, after whom a stone was named. Its position was on the
border of the territories of benjamin and Judah between Beth-arabah and Bethhogla on the E., and
Adummim and Enshemesh on the W. (Josh. xv. 6, xviii. 17)."
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Reuben’s Genealogies
“As Reuben and Simeon, They Shall Be Mine”
Genesis 48:5: 5 And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in
the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon,
they shall be mine.
Reubenites Who Entered Egypt
Genesis 46:8–9: 8 And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt,
Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn. 9 And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and
Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.
Exodus 1:1–1:5: 1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into
Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5 And all the souls
that came out of the loins ofJacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.
Heads of the Fathers’ Houses
Exodus 6:14: 14 These be the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben the
firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these be the families of Reuben.
Chronicles Genealogies
I Chronicles 2:1: 1 These are the sons of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar,
and Zebulun, 2 Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
I Chronicles 5:1–9: 1 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the
firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the
sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the
birthright. 2 For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but
the birthright was Joseph’s:) 3 The sons, I say, of Reuben the firstborn of Israel were,
Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 4 The sons of Joel; Shemaiah his son, Gog his son,
Shimei his son, 5 Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son, 6 Beerah his son, whom Tilgath-
pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites. 7 And his
brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the
chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah, 8 And Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel,
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who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baal-meon: 9 And eastward he inhabited unto the
entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates: because their cattle were multiplied
in the land of Gilead. 10 And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagarites, who fell
by their hand: and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the east land of Gilead.
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Names and Places Associated With Reuben
Reubenites
Abiram (48) father of height; lofty
Adina (5721) effeminacy
Azaz (5811) strong
Baal (1168) master; husband; owner
Beerah (880) a well
Bela (1106) a gulp; destruction
Bohan (932) thumb
Carmi (3756) gardener
Dathan (1885) [of uncert. der.]
Eliab (446) God of (his) father
Eliezer (461) God of help
Elizur (468) God of (the) rock
Gog (1463) [of uncert. der.]
Hanoch (2585) initiated
Hezron (2696) court-yard
Jeiel (3273) carried away of God
Joel (3100) Yahveh (is his) God
Leah (3812) weary
Micah (4318) who (is) like Yah?
Nemuel (5241) day of God
On (203) ability; power; wealth
Peleth (6431) to flee; swiftness
Phallu/Pallu (6396) distinguished
Reaia (7211) Yah has seen
Reuben (7205) see ye a son
Shammua (8051) renowned
Shedeur (7707) spreader of light
Shema (8087) something heard—sound; rumor;
announcement; audience
Shemaiah (8098) Yah has heard
Shimei (8096) famous
Shiza (7877) [of unknown der.]
Zaccur (2139) mindful
Zechariah (2148) Yah has remembered
Zichri (2147) memorable
Non-Reubenites
Ammon (5983) tribal; inbred
Amorites (567) a mountaineer
Balaam (1109) not (of the) people; foreigner
Beor (1160) a lamp
Bilhah (1090) timid
Evi (189) desirous
Hagarites (1905) [of uncert. der.]
Hazael (2371) God has seen
Hur (2354) white; crevice of a serpent
Geshurites (1651) bridge
Ishmeelites (3459) God will hear
Korah (7141) ice
Jetur (3195) encircled
Maachithites (4602) depression (in the sense of
being pressed in)
Midian (4080) brawling; contention
Nephish (5305) refreshed
Nodab (5114) noble
Og (5747) round
Pul (6322) [of for. or.]
Reba (7254) a fourth (part or side)
Sihon (5511) tempestuous
Tilgath-pilneser (8407) [of for. der.]
Zur (6698) cliff; rock; boulder; refuge; edge
PlacesArnon (769) a brawling stream
Aroer (6177) nudity of situation
Ashdoth-pisgah (798) ravines of the Pisgah; Pisgah
(6449) means cleft.
Ashtaroth (6252) increase
Assyria (804) be successful; straight
Ataroth (5852) crown
Baal-meon (1186) Baal of (the) habitation
Bamothbaal (1120) heights of Baal
Bashan (1316) [of uncert. der.]
Beon (1194; contr. of 1010) house of Baal of (the)
habitation
Beth-baal-meon (1010) house of Baal of (the)
habitation
Beth-jeshimoth (1020) house of the deserts
Beth-peor (1047) house of Peor; Peor (6465)
means a gap
Bezer (1221) an inaccessible spot
Canaan (3667) humiliated
Chinnereth (3672) harp-shaped
Dibon (1769) pining
Dothan (1886) [of uncert. der.]
Ebal (5858) bald; bare
Edrei (154) mighty
Elealeh (500) God (is) going up
Egypt (4714) dual of 4693, the same as 4692 in the
sense of a limit; 4692, from 6696;
something hemming in, i.e. (obj.) a
mound (of besiegers), (abstr.) a siege
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(fig.) distress; or (subj.) a fastness
Eshcol (812) a bunch of grapes or other fruit
Euphrates (6578) rushing
Gilead (1568), prob. from 1567, which means heap
of testimony
Gozan (1470) a quarry
Habor (2249) united
Halah (2477) [prob. of for. or.]
Hermon (2768) abrupt
Heshbon (2809) contrivance; intelligence
Israel (3478) he will rule as God
Jabbok (2999) pouring forth
Jahazah/Jahzah (3096) threshing-floor
Jazer (3270) helpful
Jordan (3383) a descender
Kadesh-barnea (6947) desert of a fugitive
Kedemoth (6932) beginnings
Kirjathaim (7156) double city
Medeba (4311) water of quiet
Mephaath (4158) illuminative
Nebo (5015) [prob. of for. der.]
Nimrah (5247) clear water
Paran (6290) ornamental
Red Sea (5488)(3220) 5488 means reed;
papyrus; 3220 means sea.
Salcah (5548) walking
Shebam (7643) spice
Shechem (7927) ridge
Shibmah (7643) spice
Shiloh (7887) tranquil
Zereth-shahar (6890) splendor of the dawn
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The Order and Grouping of the Twelve Tribes
(Appendix 45 of The Companion Bible)
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