REUBEN

Heb. ‏רְאוּבֵן‎ Reubain . Jacob’s first-born son. Referred to in the Qurʾān, Sūrah xii. 10 : “A speaker from amongst them said, ‘Slay not Joseph, but throw him into the bottom of the pit: some of the travellers may pick him up. ’ ” Al-Baiẓāwī, the commentator, says the name of Joseph’s oldest brother was either Yahūẕā , or Rūbīl . Joseph us gives the name as Roubel , and explains it as the “pity of God.” ( Ant . i. 19, s. 8.)