“It was when Israel dwelled in that land that Reuben went and lay with Bilha, his father's concubine, and Israel heard. The sons of Jacob were twelve” (Genesis 35:22). “It was when Israel dwelled” – Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon said: Uprooting a [person from his place on his] family tree is severe in the eyes of the Holy One blessed be He. That is what is written: “It was when Israel dwelled,” and it is written: “The sons of Jacob were twelve.”33Despite Reuben’s misconduct, Jacob is still referred to as having twelve sons, as Reuben’s place in the family was not uprooted (Yefeh To’ar).
“The sons of Reuben, firstborn of Israel; [for he was the firstborn, but when he desecrated his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, but not to be reckoned as the firstborn]” (I Chronicles 5:1). Say from here that the firstborn status in respect to monetary rights were taken from him, but the firstborn status in respect to genealogy was not taken from him.34Joseph became the firstborn regarding inheriting a double portion of the estate, and similarly, Joseph is considered two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim.
However, Reuben is still accorded the honor of being listed first among the sons, and called the firstborn. Rabbi Levi and Rabbi Simon, one of them said: It is not for Reuben to be reckoned as the firstborn. The other said: One does not reckon Joseph as the firstborn, but only for Reuben.35The argument is whether the phrase “but not to be reckoned as the firstborn” indicates that Reuben is still listed as the firstborn, or not.
Rabbi Ḥagai said in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: Even at the moment of corruption, one reckons only Reuben as the firstborn. That is what is written: “It was when [Israel] dwelled.” “The sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun” (Genesis 35:23). “The sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn” – Rabbi Yudan in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: Reuben was the first in conception, first in birth, first in birthright, first in inheritance, first in Temple service, first in repentance.
Rabbi Azarya said: First for prophecy as well, as it is stated: “The Lord spoke first to Hosea” (Hosea 1:2).36Hosea was the first of four prophets who were active in the same time period, and the Sages had a tradition that he was from the tribe of Reuben (Yefeh To’ar).