Why Jacob Calls Reuben Firstborn to His Disgrace

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayechi 11:3

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

(Genesis 49:3:) "Reuben, you are my firstborn." One said [that it was spoken] to his disgrace, and one said [that it was spoken] to his praise. To his disgrace: He said to him, "Reuben, you are my firstborn" — you are a firstborn and I am a firstborn. Rabbi Yehudah ha-Levi son of Rabbi Shalom said: For eighty-four years Jacob never saw a [nocturnal] emission. I am a firstborn and you are a firstborn.

Themes

BirthTribesPatriarchsJacobReuben

Biblical References

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