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Shalom friends,
Today we will begin our discussion of the twelve tribes of Israel with the two elder sons of Jacob: Reuben and Simeon, both sons of Leah born in Mesopotamia.
Reuben
Birth
Reuben, Jacob's first-born, is the son of Leah. His birth is reported matter-of-factly in Genesis 29:32.
Naming
| Leah names Reuben, |
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, literally "see, a boy" for she says: "God has seen my |
affliction (and given me a son), and now my husband will love me".
Personal History
The first we hear of Reuben, apparently a dedicated son to his mother, he brings her mandrakes - flowers which were considered producers of love, desire and fertility. Rachel, then barren, was interested in them, and asked Leah to give them to her. Leah agreed in return for having Jacob lie with her and not with Rachel that night (Genesis 30:14-16).
A less favorable story about Reuben occurs when Jacob is residing back in Canaan. We are briefly told that Reuben lay with Bilhah, his father's concubine. We do not know Jacob's response at the time, only that he heard of the affair. However, in Jacob's blessing to Reuben, he explains that the fact that Reuben did not receive the status of the firstborn is due to this incident.
However, Reuben plays an important and positive role in the story of Joseph and his brothers. While the brothers plan to kill Joseph, Reuben wishes to save him, and suggests throwing him into a pit. His plan is to save Joseph and return him to his father (Genesis 37:22). Reuben is not present when the brothers decide to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites passing by, and is full of grief when he returns to the pit and does not find Joseph there. The brothers are confronted with troubles when going down to Egypt to get food during a famine in Canaan, with Joseph demanding that they bring along their younger brother, Benjamin, to him. Reuben then reminds his brothers that he warned them against hurting Joseph (Genesis 42:22).
Joseph is sold by his brothers, Gustave Doré
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Future as described in the blessings of Jacob and Moses
As mentioned, Jacob prophesizes in his blessing that Reuben would not be powerful as would be expected of the tribe of the first born, because of his sin with Bilhah (Genesis 29:2-4).
Is Moses' blessing, it is clear that the tribe of Reuben has already lost much of its strength: "May Reuben live, and not die, and may his and may his members be many" (Deuteronomy 33:6).
The Tribe in Biblical History
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The Reubenites were successful shepherds, and therefore, in the times of Moses, requested, together with the Gadites and half of the Manasseites, that their lot be given to them in the fruitful plains on the East Bank of the Jordan River.
The men of these tribes participated in the conquering of Canaan before returning to their families on the East Bank. After returning from the war with great loot, the tribes built an altar to God.
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The mainland Israelites were angered by this, saw it as a sign of rebellion and planned to go fight the Trans-Jordan tribes. However, the transgressors made it clear that no such rebellion was intended and they had only meant to glorify God. They declared that they do not intend to bring sacrifices on the altar, but only that it should be there as a witness of their covenant with God, and a reminder for their children of the worship of God, since they are far from the central Israelite worship (Joshua 22).
In the times of the judges, Deborah accuses the Reubenites of not participating in the war against the Canaanites (Judges 5:15-16). This is the last we hear of the tribe, and they are never mentioned again in Israelite history. Not only is the tribe not a leading tribe as would be expected, but rather, Moses' blessing does not sustain them for long, and the tribe disappears.
Simeon
Birth
Simeon is the second son of Jacob and Leah. His birth is reported matter-of-factly in Genesis 29:33.
Naming
| Leah names Simeon, |
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, from the root |
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, - to hear, for she says: "God has |
heard that I am hated, and therefore has given me this son as well."
Personal History
When we first hear of Simeon, he takes a central part in the story of the rape of Dinah in Shechem. Together with Levi, he goes and kills all the males in the city, after these have reached an agreement with Jacob and were all circumcised. Jacob is furious with them for breaching his agreement.
The Battle in Shechem
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We do not hear of Simeon's specific roll in the story of Joseph, and apparently he is part of the group of brothers. When going down to Egypt, it is Simeon who Joseph chooses to arrest as collateral for Benjamin whom he demands that the brothers bring him, and this choice is often understood to mean that Simeon was central in wishing to harm Joseph.
Future as described in the blessings of Jacob and Moses
In the blessing of Jacob, Simeon and Levi are cursed for what they did in Shechem. Jacob reveals that they will be scattered among the tribes of Israel as punishment (Genesis 49:5-7). The tribe of Simeon is apparently so unimportant that they are the only tribe not mentioned in the blessing of Moses.
The Tribe in Biblical History
As fulfillment of Jacob's prophecy, the tribe of Simeon does not receive a lot of its own, and in Joshua's days we are told that they were settled among the tribe of Judah (Joshua 19:9). They are mentioned later, in the times of the judges, as having fought together with the tribe of Judah, and then are no longer mentioned. Apparently they were assimilated into Judah and ceased to exist as an independent tribe.
Have a great week!
The Biblical Hebrew Online Team.
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Transcription: Duda'im
Literal Meaning: mandrakes
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Appearing always in the plural, the fragrant Duda'im are considered promoters of love, fertility and sexual desire. We hear of them twice in the Bible: once in the story of Reuben, Leah and Rachel mentioned above, and once in the Song of Songs when describing the great passion between the lovers: "The mandrakes have given forth fragrance, and at our entrances are all choice fruits, new
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and old, which I have hidden for you, my beloved" (Song of Songs 7:14).
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