1 Chronicles 5:1 BSB

1 Chronicles 5:1

These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

And the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the first-born; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

KJV

Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

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Commentary

2 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

His birthright was given ... - In particular, the right of the first-born to a double inheritance Deu 21:17 was conferred on Joseph, both by the expressed will of Jacob Gen 48:22 and in the actual partition of Canaan Josh. 16–17. But though the birthright, as respecting its material privileges, passed to Joseph, its other rights, those of dignity and pre-eminence, fell to Judah; of whom came the chief ruler, an allusion especially to David, though it may reach further, and include a glance at the Messiah, the true “Ruler” of Israel Mic 5:2.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

Not reckoned - This is the second reason, which sheweth both why Reuben's genealogy was not first mentioned; and if another tribe was to be ranked before it, why that was Judah, and not Joseph, because the order of their genealogy was not to be ruled by the birthright, but by an higher privilege, which was given to Judah.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

19 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
וּבְנֵ֨י	u.ve.Nei	and [the] sons of	H1121 →
רְאוּבֵ֥ן	re.'u.Ven	Reuben	H7205 →
בְּכֽוֹר־	be.khor-	[the] firstborn of	H1060 →
יִשְׂרָאֵל֮	Yis.ra.'El	Israel	H3478 →
כִּ֣י	ki	for	H3588 →
ה֣וּא	hu'	he	H1931 →
הַבְּכוֹר֒	ha.be.khOr	[was] the firstborn	H1060 →
וּֽבְחַלְּלוֹ֙	u.ve.cha.le.Lo	and when profaned he	H2490 →
יְצוּעֵ֣י	ye.tzu.'Ei	[the] beds of	H3326 →
אָבִ֔יו	'a.Viv	father his	H1 →
נִתְּנָה֙	ni.te.Nah	it was given	H5414 →
בְּכֹ֣רָת֔וֹ	be.Kho.ra.To	birthright his	H1062 →
לִבְנֵ֥י	liv.Nei	to [the] sons of	H1121 →
יוֹסֵ֖ף	yo.Sef	Joseph	H3130 →
בֶּן־	ben-	[the] son of	H1121 →
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל	Yis.ra.'El	Israel	H3478 →
וְלֹ֥א	ve.Lo'	and not	H3808 →
לְהִתְיַחֵ֖שׂ	le.hit.ya.Ches	to have themselves enrolled	H3187 →
לַבְּכֹרָֽה׃	la.be.kho.Rah	to the birthright	H1062 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Genesis 29:32
And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”
leads to
- Deuteronomy 26:7
  So we called out to the LORD, the God of our fathers; and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, toil, and oppression.
- Exodus 3:7
  The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings.
- Exodus 4:31
  and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD had attended to the Israelites and had seen their affliction, they bowed down and worshiped.
- Genesis 49:3–4
  Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.
- Genesis 46:8–9
  Now these are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.
Through
Exodus 6:14
These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Reuben.
leads to
- Genesis 46:9
  The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
- 1 Chronicles 5:3
  The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
Through
Genesis 35:22
While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:
leads to
- Leviticus 18:8
  You must not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; it would dishonor your father.

About 1 Chronicles

Cedars Are Cut Down for the Jerusalem Temple — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain

1 Chronicles: the study guide →Read chapter 5 →The featured study →

PersonPatriarchsJosephThe rejected-then-exalted son — Genesis's great Christ-type; preserver of his family and of Egypt; the bridge into Exodus.

Continue: 1 Chronicles 5 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

06About 1 Chronicles

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

About 1 Chronicles