Reuben, Thou Art My Firstborn, My Might and the First Fruits of My

"Reuben, you are my firstborn" (Genesis 49:3). You are my firstborn, my first drop, for I lived eighty years and never even saw an emission. "You are my firstborn," resembling me. "The excellence of dignity and the excellence of strength" (Genesis 49:3): three crowns were in your hand, priesthood, kingship, and birthright. "Dignity (se'et)," this is the priesthood, as it is said: "And Aaron lifted up (va-yisa) his hands" (Leviticus 9:22). "Strength (oz)," this is the kingship, as it is said: "And He will give strength (oz) to His king" (I Samuel 2:10). "Excellence (yeter)," this is the birthright, which is a double portion, as it is said: "To give him a double portion" (Deuteronomy 21:17). And you lost them. Who caused this for you? "Unstable as water" (Genesis 49:4). Therefore, "you shall not have the excellence." What is the meaning of "pachaz" (unstable)? It is an acronym. Rabbi Eliezer says: You were unstable (pachazta), you sinned (chatata), you fornicated (zanita). Rabbi Yehoshua says: You were unstable (pachazta), you withheld (chasakhta) the yoke from your neck, you trembled (za'ta) away from the sin. Rabbi Yehudah transposes the word: You trembled (za'ta), you were terrified (charadta), your sin flew away (parach). Another interpretation: "pachaz" means: you stepped over (pasata) the law, you profaned (chillalta) your birthright, you became a stranger (zar na'aseta). "As water (ka-mayim)," what is the meaning of "as water"? If a person has in his hand a jug of water and it is spilled, nothing remains in it. But if there is oil or honey in it, some remains in it. Therefore it is said, "As water, you shall not have the excellence." "Because you went up to your father's beds" (Genesis 49:4): you went up to your father's beds. When? At the matter of the mandrakes: "Is it a small matter that you have taken my husband, etc.? Therefore he shall lie with you" (Genesis 30:15). "Then you defiled my couch." He went up, so he will be set apart until Moses comes, of whom it is written: "And Moses went up to God" (Exodus 19:3), and he will draw you near and say to you: "Let Reuben live and not die" (Deuteronomy 33:6). Reuben went out with his ears drooping. He began to call to Simeon and Levi "brothers"; brothers of Dinah, but not brothers of Joseph, for they had sold him. Rabbi Samlai said: Concerning Reuben it is written: "In order to deliver him from their hands" (Genesis 37:22). Behold, you learn that he had no part in the selling of Joseph. And Judah too said to them: "What profit is it if we slay our brother?" (Genesis 37:26). And these four were the eldest. You thus learn that Simeon and Levi sold him. For at the time they went down to Egypt, Joseph set his eyes upon Simeon, as it is said: "And he took Simeon from them and bound him" (Genesis 42:24). Therefore he called the two of them together with one expression: "Simeon and Levi are brothers" (Genesis 49:5). "Weapons of violence (chamas)." He said to them: The weapons that are in your hands are taken by violence, stolen from Esau, of whom it was said: "And by your sword you shall live" (Genesis 27:40), weapons of violence. And "chamas" refers only to Esau, as it is said: "For the violence (chamas) done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you" (Obadiah 1:10). "Mekheroteihem" (Genesis 49:5): it is a Greek term, for they call swords "makhairin." And there are those who say: "Mekheroteihem" means their dwellings, as you say: "Your origins (mekhorotayikh) and your births" (Ezekiel 16:3).