From Nave’s Topical Bible
Reuben
Every passage the 1896 Nave’s Topical Biblegathers under this heading, in Nave’s own arrangement and then in Bible order. MannaFest has not written this page — it is the older index, transcribed, with the Word travelling beside each reference.
- 13Passages listed
- 4Books of the 66
- 1896Nave's edition
How Nave’s arranged it
- Son of JacobGenesis 29:321 Chronicles 2:1
- Brings mandrakes (an aphrodisiac) to his motherGenesis 30:14
- Commits incest with one of his father' s concubines, and, in consequence, forfeits his birthrightGenesis 35:22Genesis 49:41 Chronicles 5:1
- Adroitly seeks to save Joseph from the conspiracy of his brothersGenesis 37:21–30Genesis 42:22
- Jacob' s prophetic benediction uponGenesis 49:3Genesis 49:4
- His childrenGenesis 46:9Exodus 6:141 Chronicles 5:3–6Numbers 16:1
The passages, in Bible order (13)
The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 13 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.
- Genesis 29:32
And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”
Commentary on Genesis 29:321 voice
(Verse 32.) And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Reuben. I desire to also mention the etymologies of the names of all the patriarchs for the sake of brevity in reading. And he called, he said, his name is Ruben, saying: Because the Lord has seen my humility. Ruben () is interpreted as the son of vision.
Jerome· Hebrew Questions on Genesis, 420Patristic
- Genesis 30:14
Now during the wheat harvest, Reuben went out and found some mandrakes in the field. When he brought them to his mother, Rachel begged Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”
Commentary on Genesis 30:141 voice
Some say that the mandrake is a plant whose fruit resembles apples, which have a scent and are edible. So by means of these mandrakes, with cheerfulness seasoned with faith, Leah made Jacob take her that night.
Ephrem the Syrian· COMMENTARY ON GENESIS 28.3.1, 373Patristic
- Genesis 35:22
While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:
Commentary on Genesis 35:221 voice
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land,.... In that part of it near Bethlehem: that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine; his concubine wife; she was the maid that Rachel gave him, and this added to his affliction, and made it double, to lose Rachel by death, and to have her favourite maid, his concubine, defiled by his own son, and whom it is highly probable he abstained from hereafter.
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- Genesis 37:21–30
When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue Joseph from their hands. “Let us not take his life,” he said.
Commentary on Genesis 37:21–302 voices
Indeed, Reuben and Judah observed the holy bonds of brotherhood and desired to free Joseph from their hands. Judah receives the preference by his father's blessing, and rightly so, when it is said to him, "The sons of your father shall bow down to you. A lion's whelp is Judah, and he is the expectation of nations."
Ambrose of Milan· On Joseph the Patriarch, 397Patristic
Every kind of honour and happiness was bestowed upon you, and then was fulfilled that which is written, "My beloved ate and drank, and was enlarged and became fat, and kicked." [Deuteronomy 32:15] Hence flowed emulation and envy, strife and sedition, persecution and disorder, war and captivity. So the worthless rose up against the honoured, those of no reputation against such as were renowned, the foolish against the wise, the young against those advanced in years.
Clement of Rome· Clement's First Letter to the Corinthians, Chapters 3-4, 99Patristic
- Genesis 42:22
And Reuben responded, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must account for his blood!”
Commentary on Genesis 42:221 voice
And Reuben answered them,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- Genesis 46:9
The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
Commentary on Genesis 46:91 voice
And the sons of Reuben, Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi. From whom came the families named after them, of which they were the heads, Num 26:5.
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- Genesis 49:3
Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.
Commentary on Genesis 49:31 voice
(Chapter 49, verse 3) Reuben, my firstborn, you are my strength and the first of my sons, tough in bearing and tough in insolence and injury, like water that does not boil. You went up on your father's bed, then you defiled it when you went up. In Hebrew it is written: Reuben, my firstborn, you are my strength, and the first in power among my sons. Greater in carrying, and greater in strength. You are poured out like water, do not exceed. For you have ascended the bed of your father and defiled the couch in his ascent.
Jerome· Hebrew Questions on Genesis, 420Patristic
- Genesis 49:4
Uncontrolled as the waters, you will no longer excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, onto my couch, and defiled it.
Commentary on Genesis 49:41 voice
Doesn't this seem to be a reproach rather than a blessing? Thus it really is more a prophecy than a blessing. For a prophecy is an announcement of events to come, whereas a blessing is the longed for bestowal of sanctification and of graces.The Jews suppose that the old man is saying these things to his son Reuben on this account, because the latter lay with Bilhah, his father's concubine, and polluted his father's bed. But they are easily refuted; this had already taken place.
Ambrose of Milan· On the Blessings of the Patriarchs, 397Patristic
- Exodus 6:14
These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Reuben.
Commentary on Exodus 6:142 voices
These be the heads of their father's houses,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
These be the heads - ראשי rashey, the chiefs or captains. The following genealogy was simply intended to show that Moses and Aaron came in a direct line from Abraham, and to ascertain the time of Israels deliverance. The whole account from Exo 6:14-26 inclusive, is a sort of parenthesis, and does not belong to the narration; and what follows from Exo 6:28 is a recapitulation of what was spoken in the preceding chapters.
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible, 1832Evangelical
- Numbers 16:1
Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath son of Levi, along with some Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—conducted
Commentary on Numbers 16:11 voice
Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- 1 Chronicles 2:1
These were the sons of Israel:
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 2:11 voice
These are the sons of Israel,.... Or Jacob, the other son of Isaac, who had the name of Israel given him, because of his power with God, Gen 32:28, whose twelve sons are here mentioned by name; the first four according to their birth of Leah, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; then the two sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, Issachar and Zebulun; and between Dan and Naphtali, the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, are placed Joseph and Benjamin, the sons of Rachel.
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- 1 Chronicles 5:1
These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright.
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 5:11 voice
Now the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel,....
John Gill· Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)Reformed
- 1 Chronicles 5:3–6
The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.