Prophecies
Jacob: “Reuben, you art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father’s bed: then you defiled it; he went to my couch.”
(Genesis 49:3,4)
Moses: “Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.” (Deuteronomy 33:6)
Symbols
The symbol of Reuben is usually the sign of the rising sun, but more recently - as in The Temple Institutes banner above, the symbol of a blossoming plant, a mandrake plant is now used. Both the rising sun in its full strength and the blossoming plant speak of “new beginning, new anointing, new life and beauty coming forth.” They also speak of hope. No other tribe needs this symbol of hope for a new beginning more than the tribe of Reuben.