Week 2 Genesis 49
After reading the twelve blessings of Genesis 49 I decided to see what details I could find out about each of Jacob’s sons. I wanted to see if I could make better sense of the predictive blessings.
Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it.
Reuben was Jacob’s oldest son (a son of Leah). I found four details about him:
• he brought mandrakes to his mother
• he had sexual intercourse with Bilhah
• he stepped-in to prevent Joseph’s death
• he offered his sons as surety for Benjamin
That’s it. There’s not much to go on. Personally I think that preventing Joseph from being killed was an admirable thing to do. But I don’t know how much credit to give him for offering his two sons in trade.
Jacob gave him high praise initially – excelling in honor, excelling in power. But he went on to say that Reuben was as turbulent as the waters (other versions said he was unstable & wild & uncontrollable & reckless). Having sexual intercourse with one of his father’s wives seems to be the big mark against him. That and his innate instability.
So Reuben was deprived of his place of preeminence.
Note: quote from Genesis 49:3-4 (NIV and also ESV CEB NASB AMP). Four detail from Genesis 30:14-15 35:22 37:19-22 & 42:22 42:37.