Commentary for Makkot 19:14

א"ר תנחום בר חנילאי מפני מה זכה ראובן לימנות בהצלה תחלה מפני שהוא פתח בהצלה תחלה שנאמר (בראשית לז, כא) וישמע ראובן ויצילהו מידם

Rabbi Tanhum bar Hanilai: "Because of what did Reuben merit to be counted in saving (hatzalah) first? [I.e. Why is Reuben's city mentioned first in the list of cities of refuge?] Because it was he who opened with saving (hatzalah) first, as it is said: 'Reuben heard [what his brothers had decided to do to Joseph] and he [decided to] save him (va-yetzileihu) from their hands (Genesis 37:21)."

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