The Tribe of Reuben and the Igbo
Rabbi Yehudah (Tochukwu) ben Shomeyr
Reuben, thou art my
firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of
dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel;
because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou [it]: he went
up to my couch. – Gen. 49:3-4
Let Reuben live, and
not die; and let not his men be few. – Deut. 33:6
Some
speculate that even a portion of Reuben may have traveled with Eri son of Gad to
Nigeria, seeing as Gad camped under Reuben’s banner while in the wilderness.
Reuben is
the tribe that occupied the other side of the Jordan with Gad and Manasseh, so
it is possible that with such a close tribal affiliation of these tribes that what
remained of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh when the Assyrians attacked to take them
off into exile, that Reuben and Manasseh may have traveled with the next wave
of Gadites to join their brothers already in Nigeria, therefore it is very
possible Reubenites may be among the Igbo.
Reuben,
given his Biblical history and character was known for pride, rebellion and
romance both of which fit France and Quebec to a “T”. France has had more coups
and rebellions against monarchs and governments than any other country in the
world. They truly have been “unstable as water.” France is also known for its
romance and sexual appetite which got Reuben in trouble with his father for
lying with his concubine Bilhah. The French, like Reuben is known as a very
prideful people.
It also
should be of great interest that France was one of the few countries that stood
in solidarity with Biafra during the war and that this camaraderie influenced many
Biafrans to learn and speak French! If Biafra would have won and carved out a
homeland in Nigeria, the official languages would likely have been Igbo,
English and French.
