Lexical Summary Reubeni: Reubenite Original Word: רְאוּבֵנִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance children of Reuben, Reubenites Patronymic from r'uwben; a Reubenite or descendant of Reuben -- children of Reuben, Reubenites. see HEBREW r'uwben NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Reuben Definition desc. of Reuben NASB Translation Reuben (1), Reubenite (1), Reubenites (16). Brown-Driver-Briggs רְאוּבֵנִי adjective, of a people of foregoing; of individual 1 Chronicles 11:42 a; with article as substantive collective הָראוּבֵנִי Numbers 26:7; Numbers 34:14 (both P), Joshua 13:8 (D; +הַגָּדִי), 2 Kings 10:33 ( +id. +הַמְנַשִּׁי), 1 Chronicles 12:38 (van d. H. v.1 Chronicles 12:37; +הַגָּדִי +חֲצִי שֵׁבֶט מְנַשֶּׁה), 1 Chronicles 26:32 (id.); לָראוּבֵנִי 1 Chronicles 5:6; 1 Chronicles 27:16, +וְלַגָּדִי (+ sometimes ׳חֲצִי שֵׁבֶט מ) Deuteronomy 3:12,16; Deuteronomy 29:7; Joshua 1:12; Joshua 12:6; Joshua 22:1 (all D), 1 Chronicles 5:26, compare Deuteronomy 4:43. ראות, רְאִי, רֳאִי, רְאָיָה, רְאִית see ראה. רְאֵים see רְאֵם ראישׁון see רִאשׁוֺן. p. 911, below Topical Lexicon Identity and Origin Reubenites are the descendants of Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn (Genesis 29:32). Although Reuben lost the prerogatives of the firstborn because of his sin (Genesis 35:22; 1 Chronicles 5:1–2), his lineage remained a full tribal entity within Israel. The name רְאוּבֵנִי designates individual members or the collective tribe. Wilderness Census and Organization At the second wilderness census the tribe numbered 43,730 fighting men (Numbers 26:7). Encamped on the south side of the tabernacle with Simeon and Gad (Numbers 2:10), the Reubenites marched second in the procession. Their camp position and census strength underscore their fully recognized place among the twelve tribes despite Reuben’s forfeited birthright. Territorial Inheritance East of the Jordan Because Reuben possessed “very large herds and flocks” (Numbers 32:1), the tribe petitioned Moses for the fertile tableland of the Transjordan. Moses granted the request on the condition of armed participation in the Canaanite conquest (Numbers 32:20–22). The final allotment stretched from Aroer on the Arnon northward through the plateau of Medeba (Deuteronomy 3:12; Joshua 13:15–23). As Moses summarized, “I gave to the Reubenites and Gadites the land from Aroer by the Arnon Valley… and half the hill country of Gilead” (Deuteronomy 3:12). The boundary touched Moab on the south and Ammon on the east, placing Reuben at the crossroads of regional conflicts. City of Refuge and Levitical Provision Bezer in the wilderness plateau was appointed a city of refuge “for the Reubenites” (Deuteronomy 4:43), ensuring legal protection for manslayers within the tribe’s borders and reflecting God’s provision of justice even east of the Jordan. Participation in the Conquest Joshua addressed the Reubenites alongside Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh: “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you” (Joshua 1:12). Faithful to their pledge, they helped subdue Canaan before returning home (Joshua 22:1–4). The Altar of Witness After the conquest the eastern tribes erected a large altar by the Jordan. Although initially misunderstood, it proved to be “a witness between us that the LORD is God” (Joshua 22:34). The episode demonstrates the Reubenites’ desire to maintain covenant unity with the western tribes despite geographical separation. Military Service and Valor Reubenite warriors appear repeatedly in the historical books: Their presence in royal service shows continuing loyalty to the united kingdom. Administration under David David placed “Jeriah… in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and the affairs of the king” (1 Chronicles 26:32). Later, “Eliezer son of Zichri was chief officer for Reuben” (1 Chronicles 27:16), indicating structured oversight of the tribe within the monarchy. Decline and Exile Persistent pressures from Moabites, Ammonites, and Arameans weakened Transjordanian Israel. Finally “Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria carried the Reubenites… into exile” (1 Chronicles 5:26), a 732 BC deportation that fulfilled covenant warnings (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). The Assyrian exile effectively dissolved the tribal structure, and subsequent Scripture is silent on any return. Theological Themes 1. Firstborn forfeiture yet covenant inclusion: Reuben’s tribe shows that sin forfeits privilege but not God’s faithfulness to promises. Ministry Significance Pastors and teachers may draw from the Reubenite narrative lessons on maintaining unity in dispersed congregations, balancing material prosperity with spiritual priorities, and trusting God’s faithfulness despite past failures. The tribe’s history encourages believers to serve faithfully—even from positions of diminished status—while guarding against complacency that could lead to spiritual decline. Key Old Testament References Deuteronomy 3:12, 16; 4:43; 29:8 Joshua 1:12; 12:6; 13:8; 22:1 1 Chronicles 5:6, 26; 11:42; 12:37–38; 26:32; 27:16 Forms and Transliterations הָרֻֽאוּבֵנִ֑י הָרֽאוּבֵנִ֗י הָרֽאוּבֵנִי֙ הָראוּבֵנִ֤י הָראוּבֵנִ֨י הָראוּבֵנִי֙ הראובני וְהָרֻאובֵנִ֖י וְלָרֻאוּבֵנִ֨י וְלָרֽאוּבֵנִי֙ והראובני ולראובני לָרֻֽאוּבֵנִ֑י לָרֻֽאוּבֵנִ֖י לָרֻֽאוּבֵנִי֙ לָרֽאוּבֵנִ֖י לָרֽאוּבֵנִ֣י לָרֽאוּבֵנִֽי׃ לָראוּבֵנִ֣י לראובני לראובני׃ hā·r·’ū·ḇê·nî hā·ru·’ū·ḇê·nî hār’ūḇênî hāru’ūḇênî haruuveNi haruveNi horuveNi lā·r·’ū·ḇê·nî lā·ru·’ū·ḇê·nî lār’ūḇênî lāru’ūḇênî laruuveNi loruveNi veharuvveNi velaruuveNi velaruveNi wə·hā·ru·w·ḇê·nî wə·lā·r·’ū·ḇê·nî wə·lā·ru·’ū·ḇê·nî wəhāruwḇênî wəlār’ūḇênî wəlāru’ūḇênîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 26:7 HEB: אֵ֖לֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹ֣ת הָרֻֽאוּבֵנִ֑י וַיִּהְי֣וּ פְקֻדֵיהֶ֗ם NAS: are the families of the Reubenites, and those who were numbered KJV: These [are] the families of the Reubenites: and they that were numbered INT: These the families of the Reubenites become were numbered Numbers 34:14 Deuteronomy 3:12 Deuteronomy 3:16 Deuteronomy 4:43 Deuteronomy 29:8 Joshua 1:12 Joshua 12:6 Joshua 13:8 Joshua 22:1 2 Kings 10:33 1 Chronicles 5:6 1 Chronicles 5:26 1 Chronicles 11:42 1 Chronicles 11:42 1 Chronicles 12:38 1 Chronicles 26:32 1 Chronicles 27:16 18 Occurrences |
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