Topical Bible: the Tribe of Reuben: Bounds of Their Inheritance

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The Tribe of Reuben, named after the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah, was one of the twelve tribes of Israel. As the firstborn, Reuben held a position of prominence, yet his tribe's inheritance was marked by both geographical and historical significance. The boundaries of Reuben's inheritance are detailed in the Old Testament, primarily in the Book of Numbers and the Book of Joshua.

Geographical Boundaries

The territory allotted to the Tribe of Reuben was located east of the Jordan River, in the region known as Transjordan. This area was part of the land conquered from the Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, before the Israelites crossed the Jordan into Canaan. The specific boundaries of Reuben's inheritance are outlined in Joshua 13:15-23. According to the Berean Standard Bible, the passage describes the territory as follows:

"This was the territory of the Reubenites: the Arnon Gorge, the city of Aroer on the edge of the gorge, and the whole plateau past Medeba, to include Heshbon and all its cities on the plateau, including Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon, Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath, Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the hill in the valley, Beth-peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth. All the cities of the plateau and the entire kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, were included in the territory of the Reubenites."

The northern boundary of Reuben's territory was marked by the Arnon Gorge, which served as a natural division between Reuben and the neighboring tribe of Gad. The southern boundary extended to the edge of the Dead Sea. The eastern boundary was less defined but included the plains of Moab.

Historical Context

The inheritance of Reuben was significant for several reasons. First, it was part of the land that Moses allocated to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh before his death. This allocation was a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham regarding the land his descendants would inherit.

Despite being the firstborn, Reuben's tribe did not receive the preeminent position among the tribes of Israel. This was due to Reuben's transgression against his father Jacob, as recorded in Genesis 35:22 and 49:3-4. Jacob's blessing over Reuben was more of a rebuke, which affected the tribe's standing among the Israelites.

Cultural and Religious Significance

The territory of Reuben included several cities of religious and cultural importance. Heshbon, for instance, was a significant city that had been a royal city of Sihon, king of the Amorites. The region also included sites associated with Israel's wilderness wanderings, such as the plains of Moab, where Moses delivered his final speeches to the Israelites.

The Tribe of Reuben, along with Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, played a unique role in Israel's history. They were the first to settle in their inheritance, yet they pledged to assist their fellow Israelites in conquering the land west of the Jordan. This commitment is recorded in Numbers 32:16-32, where the Reubenites, along with the Gadites, promise to fight alongside the other tribes until the land was fully possessed.

Conclusion

The inheritance of the Tribe of Reuben, while geographically distinct and historically significant, reflects the complex interplay of divine promise, human action, and the unfolding narrative of the people of Israel. The boundaries of Reuben's territory, as described in the biblical text, offer insight into the tribe's role and legacy within the broader context of Israel's history.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 3:16,17
And to the Reubenites and to the Gadites I gave from Gilead even to the river Arnon half the valley, and the border even to the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Joshua 13:15-23
And Moses gave to the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

How the Hebrews Fought with the Midianites, and Overcame Them.
... was that the two tribes of Gad and Reuben, and the ... the manslayer, if they caught
him without the bounds of the ... in marriage to men of another tribe, they shall ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 how the hebrews.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... attributed the misfortunes of the tribe to the ... of their brethren: when the latter
demanded their succour, "Gilead ... and "by the watercourses of Reuben there were ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... For though before the light was divided from the darkness, yet the day and night
was not so kept within their bounds, as now by these lights they were ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... the Magian tribe; the Avesta, in its oldest form, was the sacred book of the Magi,
as well as that of the priests who handed down their religious tradition ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm