Reuben

Reuben is Jacob's firstborn who loses his birthright through transgression - yet shows compassion by attempting to save Joseph from death and later anguishing at finding the pit empty. Jubilees 33 records Reuben's sin with Bilhah that costs him the firstborn's double portion. Jasher 42-43 shows his grief at Joseph's disappearance and his role in the later journeys to Egypt. His story illustrates how moral failure can permanently alter one's standing in the covenant community. Within the broader narrative preserved across these three ancient texts, Reuben occupies a distinctive position in the Patriarchs that connects to figures such as others in the tradition. The pseudepigraphal accounts provide details and perspectives absent from other ancient sources, offering readers a more complete portrait of this figure's significance within the cosmic drama of covenant, rebellion, and restoration that defines the Enochian worldview. These expanded narratives invite deeper reflection on the moral and spiritual dimensions of Reuben's story as it relates to the overarching themes of divine sovereignty, human agency, and the consequences of choices made in the presence of heavenly realities.

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Biography

Father: Jacob
Mother: Leah
Era: Patriarchs

Family

Parents

Jacob Leah

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Reuben

Patriarch

Key Chapters

The Book of Jubilees 33 Reuben's Sin 5 min read The Book of Jasher 43 Reuben's Anguish at not Finding Joseph in the Pit. The Brothers contrive to Deceive their Father by Dipping his coat in Blood. Jacob's Anguish at the ... 12 min read

Key Passages

Reuben's sin

The Book of Jubilees 33:1-9

And Jacob went and dwelt to the south of Magdaladra'ef. And he went to his father Isaac, he and Leah his wife, on the ne...

A¹nd Jacob went and dwelt to the south of Magdaladra'ef. And he went to his father Isaac, he and Leah his wife, on the new moon of the tenth month.

² And Reuben saw Bilhah, Rachel's maid, the concubine of his father, bathing in water in a secret place, and he loved her. ³ And he hid himself at night, and he entered the house of Bilhah at night, and he found her sleeping alone on a bed in her house. ⁴ And he lay with her, and she awoke and saw, and behold Reuben was lying with her in the bed, and she uncovered the border of her covering and seized him, and cried out, and discovered that it was Reuben. ⁵ And she was ashamed because of him, and released her hand from him, and he fled. ⁶ And she lamented because of this thing exceedingly, and did not tell it to any one. ⁷ And when Jacob returned and sought her, she said unto him: 'I am not clean for thee, for I have been defiled as regards thee; for Reuben has defiled me, and has lain with me in the night, and I was asleep, and did not discover until he uncovered my skirt and slept with me.' ⁸ And Jacob was exceedingly wroth with Reuben because he had lain with Bilhah, because he had uncovered his father's skirt. ⁹ And Jacob did not approach her again because Reuben had defiled her. And as for any man who uncovers his father's skirt his deed is wicked exceedingly, for he is abominable before the Lord.

Read full chapter: The Book of Jubilees 33 →

Reuben and Joseph

The Book of Jasher 43:1-10

And when the sons of Jacob had sold their brother Joseph to the Midianites, their hearts were smitten on account of him,...

A¹nd when the sons of Jacob had sold their brother Joseph to the Midianites, their hearts were smitten on account of him, and they repented of their acts, and they sought for him to bring him back, but could not find him.

² And Reuben returned to the pit in which Joseph had been put, in order to lift him out, and restore him to his father, and Reuben stood by the pit, and he heard not a word, and he called out Joseph! Joseph! and no one answered or uttered a word. ³ And Reuben said, Joseph has died through fright, or some serpent has caused his death; and Reuben descended into the pit, and he searched for Joseph and could not find him in the pit, and he came out again. ⁴ And Reuben tore his garments and he said, The child is not there, and how shall I reconcile my father about him if he be dead? and he went to his brethren and found them grieving on account of Joseph, and counseling together how to reconcile their father about him, and Reuben said unto his brethren, I came to the pit and behold Joseph was not there, what then shall we say unto our father, for my father will only seek the lad from me. ⁵ And his brethren answered him saying, Thus and thus we did, and our hearts afterward smote us on account of this act, and we now sit to seek a pretext how we shall reconcile our father to it. ⁶ And Reuben said unto them, What is this you have done to bring down the grey hairs of our father in sorrow to the grave? the thing is not good, that you have done. ⁷ And Reuben sat with them, and they all rose up and swore to each other not to tell this thing unto Jacob, and they all said, The man who will tell this to our father or his household, or who will report this to any of the children of the land, we will all rise up against him and slay him with the sword. ⁸ And the sons of Jacob feared each other in this matter, from the youngest to the oldest, and no one spoke a word, and they concealed the thing in their hearts. ⁹ And they afterward sat down to determine and invent something to say unto their father Jacob concerning all these things. ¹⁰ And Issachar said unto them, Here is an advice for you if it seem good in your eyes to do this thing, take the coat which belongeth to Joseph and tear it, and kill a kid of the goats and dip it in its blood.

Read full chapter: The Book of Jasher 43 →

Did You Know?

He placed mandrakes in his mother's tent hoping to help Leah conceive again.

His sin with Bilhah cost him the firstborn's double portion permanently.

He offered his own two sons as surety for Benjamin's safety.