We all know the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors, sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. But what about Reuben? What role did he play in this dramatic saga?
Genesis 37:21 tells us, "Reuben heard, and delivered him from their hand and said: Let us not smite him mortally.” But the text raises a question: "Reuben heard, and delivered him" – where had he been?
It seems he wasn't part of the initial, shall we say, heated discussion among his brothers. The Etz Yosef commentary points out that the very fact that he heard about it suggests he wasn't present for the original planning. So, what was keeping Reuben away?
The Rabbis offer several fascinating perspectives in Bereshit Rabbah. Rabbi Yosei suggests a rotation system: each brother had a designated day to serve their father, Jacob, and this particular day belonged to Reuben. So, perhaps he was simply tending to his familial duties.
Rabbi Nechemya offers another angle, focusing on Reuben’s sense of responsibility as the firstborn. He imagines Reuben thinking, "I am the firstborn, and the blame will be attributed only to me." A heavy burden for the eldest son to bear!
And then the Rabbis themselves weigh in with a third interpretation. They propose that Reuben felt a renewed sense of belonging. He thinks, "He enumerates me with my brothers; shall I not rescue him?" You see, Reuben was under the impression that he'd been banished in some way because of the incident with Bilhah (Genesis 35:22), Jacob’s concubine. But then Joseph recounts his dream: "And eleven stars prostrated themselves to me" (Genesis 37:9). Reuben reasons that if he’s still counted among those eleven stars, maybe he hasn't been completely cast aside. "Shall I not rescue him?" he asks himself.
Regardless of the exact motivation, Reuben steps up and intervenes. And, according to the Rabbis, God takes notice. Bereshit Rabbah continues by saying that the Holy One, blessed be He, said, "You were the first to engage in the saving of lives; as you live, they will designate cities of refuge first only within your boundaries.” This is reflected in Deuteronomy 4:43, "Betzer in the wilderness…[for the Reubenites]". Cities of refuge, arei miklat in Hebrew, were designated places where someone who had accidentally committed manslaughter could flee and find sanctuary. Because Reuben chose compassion, because he chose to intervene and save his brother's life, his tribe was given the honor of hosting the very first cities of refuge. It's a powerful testament to the ripple effect of even a single act of kindness and courage.
So, the next time you read the story of Joseph, remember Reuben. Remember his choice, his potential motivations, and the lasting impact of his actions. It reminds us that even in stories filled with jealousy and betrayal, there's always room for redemption, and that even seemingly small acts of compassion can have profound and lasting consequences.