Let Ruben live, and not die, and be he small in number.
יְחִ֥י רְאוּבֵ֖ן וְאַל־יָמֹ֑ת וִיהִ֥י מְתָ֖יו מִסְפָּֽר׃
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Please indulge me as I present to you evidence from Scripture regarding prayer for the deceased. Moses, in his blessing, proclaimed to Reuben, “Let Reuben live in the third generation.” If it were truly inconceivable to seek assistance for those who have passed away, then why did Abraham’s son extend a blessing to Reuben?
Moses begins by bestowing a blessing upon Reuben, releasing him from the obligations of his father's vow. He juxtaposes Reuben's wrongdoing with his fraternity, as a legitimate lawgiver has the authority to transform a curse into a blessing. Moses declares, "Let Reuben live, and not die, and let his numbers increase" (Gen. 49:4), affirming the promise of numerous descendants by ensuring he does not harbor resentment against the multitude.
Regarding Simeon, the absence of a blessing can be attributed to his lack of justification, unlike Reuben, who was granted favor due to his brotherly affection, allowing for an amendment to the oath. Levi received his blessing due to the esteemed Moses, while the tribe that would allow others’ oaths also deemed its own acceptable. Simeon stands out as he apparently played a central role in the wrongdoing against Joseph, highlighted by the fact that, despite the release of all the other brothers, he was bound and imprisoned. Nevertheless, Simeon's tribe was included in the larger communal blessing administered by Moses, who proclaimed, "And Israel shall dwell in safety, alone in the land of Jacob, a land of grain and wine; and the heavens shall drip with dew" (Deut. 33:28), adding many other elements to the collective benediction.
After the blessings were conferred, the Lord God revealed the entirety of the earth to the prophet but prohibited him from entering it. This echoes what our Savior remarked: "Many prophets and righteous individuals longed to see what you see and did not see it, and to hear what you hear and did not hear it" (Matthew 13:17).
Moses, exercising his role as a priest, desired to grant forgiveness to Reuben, who had strayed and committed an offense by having relations with Bilhah, his father's concubine (See Genesis 35:22). He aimed that Reuben would not be excluded from his brothers when they would rise up. At the start of his blessings, he proclaimed, "Let Reuben live, and let him not die! And may he be among them."
Moses, while blessing the offspring of Reuben, spoke of him who had long since departed, declaring, "Let Reuben live, and let him not perish," indicating a belief in life after death and the judgement that leads to the second death. In this way, he bestows upon Reuben two blessings, stating that he may experience life in the resurrection and not face death in judgement. Here, death is defined not merely as the physical separation of the body but as the outcome of divine judgement.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS