Reuben the Firstborn and the Three Crowns He Lost

Another explanation: "Gather yourselves" — make yourselves into assemblies. When they came to him, he said, "Reuben, you are my firstborn" (Genesis 49:3). "Reuben, you are my firstborn": you are firstborn for inheritance, firstborn for lineage, firstborn for repentance — "and Reuben returned to the pit" (Genesis 37:29); firstborn for inheritance — "and the children of Reuben had much cattle"; firstborn for exile — "and he exiled the Reubenites and the Gadites" (1 Chronicles 5:26); firstborn for cities of refuge — "Bezer in the wilderness" (Deuteronomy 4:43); firstborn for lineage — "for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's bed" (1 Chronicles 5:1) they took the wealth from him, but not to be reckoned in lineage. Another explanation: "Reuben, you are my firstborn" — and all the gifts are fitting for you, as it is written, "and the first of all the firstfruits of all and every heave offering of all." And the dough offering, from where? "The first of your dough." Therefore it says, "the beginning of my strength." "Excess of dignity" — this is the Levitical service, as it is written, "And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over the carrying" and it says, "on the shoulder they shall bear" (Numbers 7:9), and it is written, "And Aaron lifted up his hands" (Leviticus 9:22). "And excess of power" — this is kingship. "Unstable as water" — you were likened to the rash ones who leap about. Rabbi Nathan expounds it for praise: "You are my firstborn" — the birthright befits you. Other firstborn are robbers and extortioners, as it is said, "And Esau went out to the field" and so on, but you did not sin except from what was ownerless, as it is said, "and he found mandrakes." Other firstborn hate one another — Cain hated Abel, Ishmael Isaac, Esau Jacob — but you, "And Reuben said to them, Do not shed blood" (Genesis 37:22). "My strength" — for he raised up mighty men of valor, as it is said, "about forty thousand prepared for war" (Joshua 4:13). "Dignity" — in inheritance, "sixty cities, all the region of Argob" (Deuteronomy 3:4). "And excess of power" — for they were mighty, as it is written, "and the faces of a lion were their faces." "Unstable as water" — he hinted that he would not be brought near until Moses, who was drawn from the water, would bring him near, as it is said, "for I drew him from the water" (Exodus 2:10). And what does it say? "Let Reuben live and not die" (Deuteronomy 33:6). Another explanation: "Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength and the beginning of my might" — for our father Jacob saw no nocturnal emission for eighty-four years, until Reuben was born. "Excess of dignity and excess of power" — he said to him: You were fitting to take three portions more than your brothers: the birthright, the priesthood, and the kingship. But when you sinned, the birthright was given to Joseph, the priesthood to Levi, and the kingship to Judah. "Unstable as water, you shall not have the excess." "For you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled it; he went up to my couch" (Genesis 49:4). He said to him: My son, you have no healing until one comes of whom it is written, "And Moses went up" (Exodus 19:3). And when Moses came and stood on Mount Ebal and appointed the tribe of Reuben over the blessings and said, "Cursed be he who lies with his father's wife" (Deuteronomy 27:20), all Israel knew that Reuben was innocent, and he was healed, and the Holy One, blessed be He, forgave him. "Simeon and Levi are brothers; into their counsel let my soul not come; in their assembly let my honor not be united" (Genesis 49:5-6). He prayed for mercy upon himself that he not be reckoned with them, as it is said, "into their counsel let my soul not come" — these are the spies; "in their assembly let my honor not be united" — this is the company of Korah. When these tribes sinned in their assembly, let not my name be remembered there. It is written, "Zimri son of Salu, prince of a father's house among the Simeonites," and likewise, "Korah son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi" (Numbers 16:1).