Reuben redirects here.
This article is about the tribe. You may be looking for the Patriarch.
The Tribe of Reuben is one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Reuben, the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah.[1]
The tribe of Reuben was allocated land on the eastern side of the Jordan River. The territory included the plains of Moab and extended from the Arnon River to the southern end of the Dead Sea.[2]
The tribe of Reuben, despite its early prominence, struggled to maintain its status. In Jacob’s final blessing to his sons, he described Reuben as “unstable as water”, indicating his potential but also his failings.[3]
The tribe of Reuben played a role in the early history of Israel but eventually faded from prominence. Along with the tribes of Gad and half of Manasseh, Reuben’s descendants settled east of the Jordan River. Over time, their territory was often contested and influenced by neighboring nations, such as Moab.