We find a glimpse of it in Legends of the Jews, Louis Ginzberg's monumental work that draws together so many threads of Jewish tradition.
Reuben, you see, knew he was partially responsible for the sale of Joseph into slavery. Can you imagine the guilt? The weight of that decision, knowing the pain it caused his father and his brothers?
The text tells us, "My father, seeing me downcast, asked to know the cause of my sadness, and I replied that I was suffering with my liver, but in truth I was mourning more than all my brethren, seeing that I had been the cause of Joseph's sale.” He couldn't even bring himself to confess the truth directly to his father. Instead, he hid behind a physical ailment, a "liver" problem, to mask the deeper wound.
And when the brothers traveled to Egypt, and Joseph, now a powerful viceroy, accused them of being spies and imprisoned Reuben, what was his reaction? According to Legends of the Jews, "I was not grieved, for I knew in my heart that my suffering was just retribution." He accepted his imprisonment as a deserved punishment, a karmic consequence of his past actions.
But here's where the story takes a beautiful turn.
Despite everything, Joseph harbored no bitterness. He was, as the text says, "good, the spirit of God dwelt within him." He was compassionate, merciful, and loved his brothers unconditionally, even Reuben. He showered them with honor, gold, cattle, and produce. Imagine that reunion, fraught with the weight of the past, yet overflowing with forgiveness.
Reuben, reflecting on this, offers his children a powerful piece of wisdom. His final words are a plea for unity and love: "And now, my dear children, do ye love one another, each one his brother, with a clean heart, and remove the spirit of jealousy from the midst of you."
It’s a reminder that even in the face of past mistakes, even with the burden of guilt, forgiveness and love can prevail. It is a call to us to examine our own hearts, to root out jealousy and bitterness, and to choose love and understanding. It's a message as relevant today as it was then. And it makes you wonder: What burdens are we carrying, and how can we, like Reuben, strive for reconciliation and love?