Reuben or Reuven (Hebrew: רְאוּבֵן, Standard Rəʾūven, Tiberian Rŭʾūḇēn) was the first of the six sons of Jacob and Leah, according to the Book of Genesis. He was a disappointment to Jacob and lost the pre-eminent position which should have been his as Jacob's firstborn. He was the founder of the Israelite Tribe of Reuben.