Reuben Returns to the Pit and the Reward of His Return

"From the fruit of a man's mouth he is satisfied with good" (Proverbs 12:14). It is written, "And Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit" (Genesis 37:29). Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Joshua, and the Rabbis interpreted this. Rabbi Eliezer says: He was occupied with his sackcloth and his fasting over that deed concerning Bilhah that had befallen him, and he was not free; and once he was free from his sackcloth and fasting, he came and looked into the pit, "and behold, Joseph was not in the pit" (Genesis 37:29). Rabbi Joshua says: The burden of the household duties had been cast upon him and he was not free; and once he was free of the household burden, he came and looked into the pit, "and behold, Joseph was not in the pit." And the Rabbis said: The Holy One said to him, "You sought to restore a son beloved to his father. By your life, your descendant shall restore Israel to their Father in heaven." And who is this? This is Hosea, as it is written, "The word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri" (Hosea 1:1), and it is written, "Beerah his son" (1 Chronicles 5:6). And why was he called Beerah? Because he was a well (be'er) of Torah. And why did Beerah die in exile? So that the ten tribes would return by his merit. And why did Moses die in the wilderness? So that the generation of the wilderness would return by his merit. Rabbi Berekhiah said: The Holy One said to him, "You were the first to open with repentance. By your life, your descendant shall come and open first with repentance," namely, "Return, O Israel" (Hosea 14:2).