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which states that prophecy only rests on those in a state of joy, he £Reuben – Unstable Like WaterReuben – Unstable Like WaterReuben – Unstable Like Water
implies that since Jacob had learned of Joseph’s apparent death, he ££
had been in a state of deep mourning. Consequently, for twenty-two
years, the spirit of prophecy had left him.
Before he died, Jacob blessed his sons. He began with his firstborn:
The Midrash Hagadol (45:26) states that Serach, Jacob’s grand- “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength and my first vigor,
daughter, was sent to him and she played him soft, tranquil music foremost in rank and foremost in power. Unstable like water – you can
while gently breaking the news to him through her song. Jacob blessed not excel, because you went up on your father’s bed and defiled Him
her for announcing the news to him in such a soothing, healing way who ascended my couch” (Genesis 49:3-4). In the midst of ostensibly
and according to tradition she lived a remarkably long life.
blessing Reuben, Jacob criticizes him harshly informing him that
There is a deep connection between the notion that prophecy only because he rashly moved Jacob’s bed from Bilhah’s tent to Leah’s
rests on those in a state of joy and the Midrash relating the musical tent after Rachel died, he would lose the rights of the firstborn.
way in which Jacob received the news that Joseph was alive. In fact, The Sages explain that although Reuben acted impetuously, his
the Tanach oftentimes makes the connection between music and motives were pure as he was defending his mother’s honor; he felt
prophecy, in general, and between music’s healing qualities and its that Jacob’s decision to move his bed to Bilhah’s tent (the tent
connection to both joy and prophecy, in particular.
of Rachel’s handmaiden), instead of to his mother Leah’s was an
Nowhere are these relationships made clearer than in the stories of affront to her. Although Reuben sincerely repented this misdeed,
King Saul. At the very beginning of his career, the young Saul finds Jacob deemed him “unstable like water,” exhibiting poor leadership
it hard to believe that God has chosen him to be king. The prophet material, and took away his position of the firstborn.
Samuel reassures him that this is so and provides him with a number Jacob seems to be right about Reuben’s instability as the Torah
of signs to prove this. One of these signs was that Saul would “meet records two other incidents in which Reuben fails as a leader because
a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a lute and he seems to act either impetuously or in an indecisive manner. Firstly,
a timbrel, and a pipe and a lyre before them, and they shall prophesy when the brothers wanted to kill Joseph, Reuben convinced them to
and the spirit of God will come upon you and you will prophesy with cast him into a pit. He planned to come back later and save Joseph,
them and you shall be turned into another man” (1 Samuel 10:5- but failed to do so, for when he returned from attending to his father,
6). Saul in fact does meet the band of musical prophets and he too Joseph had already been sold. Secondly, when Benjamin needed to 24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 6 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Magenta #24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 6 - B | 18-01-28 | 12:12:04 | SR:-- | Yellow 24107-EYAL - 24107-EYAL | 6 - B |
begins to prophesy.
be taken to Egypt to ransom Simon, whom Pharaoh had detained,
Tradition explains that the band of prophets used music to create Reuben rashly guaranteed Benjamin’s safety by proposing that
the proper spiritual atmosphere for the Divine spirit to rest upon Jacob kill his own sons if anything happened to Benjamin. Would
them. Reflecting this use of music, the prophet Elisha was once Jacob really have been happy with such a guarantee?
approached by three kings who ask for his prophetic insight. He Reuben’s failure presents us with a test case for examining why
asked them to bring him a minstrel, and then the Tanach relates, such a gifted individual fell so short of his potential. Throughout the
“And it came to pass when the minstrel played, the hand of God book of Bereishit we have discussed the Talmudic statement, “the
came upon him” (2 Kings 3:15). Although there are many ways that actions of the fathers are a sign to the children” (Sotah 34a). We have
Divine spirit and prophesy are expressed and manifest themselves, it repeated time and again that our forefathers are not only figures for
is significant that music is considered one of those channels. emulation, their archetypal deeds actually engrave themselves upon
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