Reuben, son of Jacob, emerged from a family marked by intense competition and favoritism among Jacob's wives and concubines. Born into a tumultuous household, he was part of a lineage of strong biblical personalities, including Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob himself. As one of Jacob's sons, Reuben was involved in significant family events that shaped the environment into which his brother Joseph was born. In the incident involving Dinah, Reuben, along with his brothers, displayed a disregard for their father's counsel. When Simeon and Levi took violent action against the city of Shechem, Reuben and the other brothers participated in plundering the city, showing disrespect for Jacob's attempts to find a political resolution. This act of vengeance revealed the deep-seated tensions and competitive attitudes within the family, influenced by the dynamics among the four mothers and their children. Jacob never forgot Reuben's actions in this and other matters, and this memory influenced the curses and blessings pronounced upon his sons. Reuben, like Simeon and Levi, faced consequences for his behavior, as he did not receive a land of his own within Israel. These events and attitudes formed the challenging milieu of rivalry and discord that surrounded the family, impacting the upbringing and character development of all the brothers, including Joseph.

Reuben, the oldest son of Jacob, played a significant role in the tumultuous dynamics of his family. As the eldest, he was initially in line for the inheritance and the associated promises. However, his actions led to a profound loss of favor. Reuben dishonored his father by engaging in an intimate relationship with one of Jacob's lesser wives, an act that resulted in him forfeiting any consideration for receiving the birthright or scepter promises. This incident marked a critical turning point, contributing to the shifting focus within the family history toward other brothers, notably Joseph and Judah, as central figures in the unfolding narrative of Jacob's lineage.

Reuben, son of Jacob, emerges as a complex figure among the brothers who conspired against Joseph. Despite his own past dishonor in sleeping with his father's concubine, Bilhah, which presumably cost him his birthright, Reuben showed a measure of concern for Joseph during the cruel plot devised by his siblings. When the brothers planned to kill Joseph and cast him into a pit, Reuben intervened, counseling against murder by urging them not to shed blood. His intention was to secretly return later and rescue Joseph, restoring him to their father, Jacob, perhaps as a means of atoning for his earlier wrong. However, Reuben's plan proved ineffective. While he was absent, the other brothers sold Joseph to Midianite traders as a slave. Upon his return, Reuben could only lament the situation, unable to prevent the grave injustice. His failure to stand openly and decisively against the brothers' actions implicated him in the tragedy, revealing the weakness of his covert approach. Though he sought to help, his efforts were too little and too late, leaving Joseph to suffer the consequences of betrayal and enslavement.