Reuben

Le'ah conceived and gave birth to a son, whom she named Re'uven [see, a son!], for she said, "It is because ADONAI has seen how humiliated I have been, but now my husband will love me."

During the wheat harvest season Re'uven went and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Le'ah. Rachel said to Le'ah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes [so that I can be fertile]."

It was while Isra'el was living in that land that Re'uven went and slept with Bilhah his father's concubine, and Isra'el heard about it. Ya'akov had twelve sons.

The sons of Le'ah were Re'uven Ya'akov's firstborn, Shim'on, Levi, Y'hudah, Yissakhar and Z'vulun.

But when Re'uven heard this, he saved him from being destroyed by them. He said, "We shouldn't take his life.

Don't shed blood," Re'uven added. "Throw him into this cistern here in the wilds, but don't lay hands on him yourselves." He intended to rescue him from them later and restore him to his father.

Re'uven returned to the cistern, and, upon seeing that Yosef wasn't in it, tore his clothes in mourning.

Re'uven answered them, "Didn't I tell you, 'Don't wrong the boy'? But you wouldn't hear of it. Now comes the reckoning for his blood!"

Re'uven said to his father, "If I don't bring him back to you, you can kill my own two sons! Put him in my care; I will return him to you."

These are the names of Isra'el's children who came into Egypt, Ya'akov and his sons: Re'uven Ya'akov's firstborn;

and the sons of Re'uven - Hanokh, Pallu, Hetzron and Karmi.

Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Efrayim and M'nasheh will be as much mine as Re'uven and Shim'on are.

"Re'uven, you are my firstborn, my strength, the firstfruits of my manhood.

Re'uven, Shim'on, Levi, Y'hudah,

These were the heads of their families: the sons of Re'uven the firstborn of Isra'el were Hanokh, Pallu, Hetzron and Karmi. These were the families of Re'uven.

These are the men to take with you: From Re'uven, Elitzur the son of Sh'de'ur;

The men twenty years old and over who were subject to military service were recorded by name, family and clan, starting with the descendants of Re'uven, Isra'el's firstborn. Here are the totals:

Descendants of Re'uven 46,500

"Those camping on the south are to be under the banner of the camp of Re'uven; they are to camp according to companies; by tribe and leader they are as follows: Tribe Chief Number Re'uven Elitzur the son of Sh'de'ur 46,500 Shim'on Shlumi'el the son of Tzurishaddai 59,300 Gad Elyasaf the son of Re'u'el 45,650 Total 151,450 "This group is to set out second.

All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank.

On the fourth day was Elitzur the son of Sh'de'ur, leader of the descendants of Re'uven.

Next, the banner of the camp of Re'uven moved forward by companies; over his company was Elitzur the son of Sh'de'ur.

Here are their names: from the tribe of Re'uven, Shamua the son of Zakur;

Now Korach the son of Yitz'har, the son of K'hat, the son of Levi, along with Datan and Aviram, the sons of Eli'av, and On, the son of Pelet, descendants of Re'uven, took men and

[The census results begin with] Re'uven, the firstborn of Isra'el. The descendants of Re'uven were: of Hanokh, the family of the Hanokhi; of Pallu, the family of the Pallu'i;