A patriarch in the Bible, the eldest son of Jacob (Genesis 46:49). He was deprived of his birthright in punishment for a grave sin. Through his intervention Joseph's life was spared by his brothers. The tribe of Ruben was situated east of the Jordan, and shared with the tribe of Gad the territory of the Amorrhites. Some of their cities fell into the hands of the Moabites before the Assyrian captivity.