The Tribe of Reuben, named after the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah, holds a significant place in the narrative of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. As the firstborn, Reuben was expected to inherit a position of leadership and strength among the tribes of Israel. However, the tribe's history is marked by a series of events that influenced its standing and strength during the Exodus.

Census and Military Strength

Upon leaving Egypt, the Israelites were organized into a structured community, with each tribe counted and assigned specific roles. The Book of Numbers provides a detailed account of the census taken in the wilderness. According to Numbers 1:20-21 , the men of the Tribe of Reuben, aged twenty years and older, who were able to serve in the army, numbered 46,500. This figure reflects the tribe's considerable size and potential military strength at the time of the Exodus.

Position in the Camp

The arrangement of the Israelite camp was divinely ordained, with each tribe assigned a specific position around the Tabernacle. The Tribe of Reuben was positioned on the south side of the camp, alongside the tribes of Simeon and Gad. This strategic placement highlights the tribe's role within the larger community of Israel as they journeyed through the wilderness.

Leadership and Challenges

Despite its numerical strength, the Tribe of Reuben faced challenges in leadership and influence. Reuben's personal indiscretion, as recorded in Genesis 35:22, had long-lasting repercussions for his descendants. Jacob's blessing, or rather his rebuke, in Genesis 49:3-4 reflects this: "Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. Uncontrolled as the waters, you will no longer excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it."

This loss of preeminence is evident in the tribe's subsequent history. During the wilderness journey, the tribe did not produce any prominent leaders comparable to those from other tribes, such as Moses from Levi or Joshua from Ephraim.

Role in the Rebellion

The Tribe of Reuben's struggle with leadership is further illustrated in the rebellion led by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram, who were from the Tribe of Reuben, joined Korah in challenging Moses' authority (Numbers 16). This rebellion resulted in severe consequences, as the earth opened up and swallowed the rebels and their households. This event underscores the internal strife and challenges to authority within the tribe.

Inheritance and Settlement

As the Israelites approached the Promised Land, the Tribe of Reuben, along with the Tribe of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, requested to settle on the east side of the Jordan River. Numbers 32:1-5 records their appeal to Moses, citing the suitability of the land for their livestock. Moses granted their request on the condition that they assist in the conquest of Canaan before returning to their allotted inheritance.

The decision to settle outside the main body of Israelite territory had long-term implications for the tribe's cohesion and influence. While they fulfilled their military obligations, their separation from the other tribes foreshadowed future vulnerabilities and challenges in maintaining their identity and strength.

Conclusion

The Tribe of Reuben, though numerically strong at the time of the Exodus, faced significant challenges in leadership and influence. Their history during the wilderness journey reflects a complex interplay of strength, internal strife, and eventual settlement outside the central territory of Israel. The tribe's legacy is a testament to the enduring consequences of personal and collective actions within the covenant community of Israel.Numbers 1:20,21
And the children of Reuben, Israel's oldest 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;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

How Joshua, the Commander of the Hebrews, Made War with The
... were taken, but the others must be taken in length of thee, by long sieges, both
on account of the strength of their ... Now when the tribe of Reuben, and that ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how joshua the.htm

Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested ...
... dwelt a man, His name Manoah, of the tribe of Dan ... remember me, I pray, This once
give strength, that I ... Then Reuben said, My father I resign To thy disposing ...
/.../scriptural poems being several portions.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... Kishon."O my soul, march on with strength."Then did ... at the time that Gad and Reuben
were in ... all the families which constituted the half-tribe of Manasseh ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Ancestors of the Blessed virgin
... tribe of Levi; her mother Ismeria was of the tribe of Benjamin. ... 24] The priest Reuben
appears in ... name Helia (presumably Heli-yah) would mean My strength is the ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/i ancestors of the blessed.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... entrusted with the government of a mountain tribe dwelling to ... hero of the dynasty
who had conquered Egypt had not ventured to measure his strength with the ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

Faustus States his Objections to the Morality of the Law and the ...
... by God; [789] or how Moses committed murder, [790] and plundered Egypt, [791] and ...
He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for strength is perfected ...
/.../faustus states his objections to.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... is possible that, in Genesis 37:21, Reuben has been ... they came in time to form a tribe
by themselves ... from useless angles which might detract from its strength. ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... Glory is in his wisdom, glory is in his holiness, glory is in his mercy, justice,
and strength; and "God is love" (1 John 4:16).[1]. II. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

Who was Reuben in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the tribe of Reuben? | GotQuestions.org

Why did Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh want to live on the east of the Jordan? | GotQuestions.org

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