Why Isn't Reuben the Leader of the Brothers?
Remember, the central question of Genesis 37-50 is:
Who will lead the family after Jacob is gone?
Reuben, the eldest, would seem to be an obvious candidate.
That is, until you notice something interesting whenever he appears in the story:
No one ever listens to him!
The basic definition of leader is a person whom other people follow. If no one is following, you’re not a leader. Period.
For whatever reason, the brothers don’t follow Reuben.
For example:
37 Then Reuben said to his father, “You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back.”
38 But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.”
Note that no one even seriously considers Reuben’s suggestion, which is obviously ludicrous. Why would you kill the next generation for the sake of saving the previous one? He’s an idiot.
Reuben will not be the next leader of the family.
Who will it be? There are 11 remaining possibilities.