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Selected Verse: 1 Chronicles 5:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
1Ch 5:1	Strong Concordance	Now the sons [01121] of Reuben [07205] the firstborn [01060] of Israel [03478], (for he was the firstborn [01060]; but, forasmuch as he defiled [02490] his father's [01] bed [03326], his birthright [01062] was given [05414] unto the sons [01121] of Joseph [03130] the son [01121] of Israel [03478]: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned [03187] after the birthright [01062].
	King James	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.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
THE LINE OF REUBEN. (Ch1 5:1-10) Now the sons of Reuben--In proceeding to give this genealogy, the sacred historian states, in a parenthesis (Ch1 5:1-2), the reason why it was not placed first, as Reuben was the oldest son of Jacob. The birthright, which by a foul crime he had forfeited, implied not only dominion, but a double portion (Deu 21:17); and both of these were transferred to Joseph, whose two sons having been adopted as the children of Jacob (Gen 48:5), received each an allotted portion, as forming two distinct tribes in Israel. Joseph then was entitled to the precedency; and yet, as his posterity was not mentioned first, the sacred historian judged it necessary to explain that "the genealogy was not to be reckoned after the birthright," but with a reference to a superior honor and privilege that had been conferred on Judah--not the man, but the tribe, whereby it was invested with the pre-eminence over all the other tribes, and out of it was to spring David with his royal lineage, and especially the great Messiah (Heb 7:14). These were the two reasons why, in the order of enumeration, the genealogy of Judah is introduced before that of Reuben.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

THE LINE OF REUBEN. (Ch1 5:1-10)

Now the sons of Reuben--In proceeding to give this genealogy, the sacred historian states, in a parenthesis (Ch1 5:1-2), the reason why it was not placed first, as Reuben was the oldest son of Jacob. The birthright, which by a foul crime he had forfeited, implied not only dominion, but a double portion (Deu 21:17); and both of these were transferred to Joseph, whose two sons having been adopted as the children of Jacob (Gen 48:5), received each an allotted portion, as forming two distinct tribes in Israel. Joseph then was entitled to the precedency; and yet, as his posterity was not mentioned first, the sacred historian judged it necessary to explain that "the genealogy was not to be reckoned after the birthright," but with a reference to a superior honor and privilege that had been conferred on Judah--not the man, but the tribe, whereby it was invested with the pre-eminence over all the other tribes, and out of it was to spring David with his royal lineage, and especially the great Messiah (Heb 7:14). These were the two reasons why, in the order of enumeration, the genealogy of Judah is introduced before that of Reuben.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
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.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The families of the tribe of Reuben. - Ch1 5:1, Ch1 5:2. Reuben is called the first-born of Israel, because he was the first-born of Jacob, although, owing to his having defiled his father's bed (Gen 49:4), his birthright, i.e., its privileges, were transferred to the sons of Joseph, who were not, however, entered in the family register of the house of Israel according to the birthright, i.e., as first-born sons. The inf. התיחשׂ with ל expresses "shall" or "must," cf. Ew. 237, e., "he was not to register," i.e., "he was not to be registered." The subject is Joseph, as the Rabbins, e.g., Kimchi, have perceived. The clauses after הוּא כּי form a parenthesis, containing the reason of Reuben's being called ישׂראל בּכור, which is still further established by its being shown (in Ch1 5:2) how it happened that Joseph, although the birthright was given to him, according to the disposition made by the patriarch (Gen 48:5.), yet was not entered in the family registers as first-born. The reason of this was, "for Judah was strong among his brethren, and (one) from him became the Prince;" scil. on the strength of the patriarchal blessing (Gen 49:8-12), and by means of the historic fulfilment of this blessing. The "prevailing" of Judah among his brethren showed itself even under Moses at the numbering of the people, when the tribe of Judah considerably outnumbered all the other tribes (cf. t. i. 2, S. 192). Then, again, it appeared after the division of the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel, Judah being called by a declaration of the divine will to be the vanguard of the army in the war against the Canaanites (Jdg 1:1.); and it was finally made manifest by the נגיד over Israel being chosen by God from the tribe of Judah, in the person of David (cf. Ch1 28:4 with Sa1 13:14; Sa1 25:30). From this we gather that the short, and from its brevity obscure, sentence ממּנוּ וּלנגיד bears the signification we have given it. "But the birthright was Joseph's;" i.e., the rights of the progenitor were transferred to or remained with him, for two tribal domains were assigned to his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh, according to the law of the first-born (Deu 21:15-17). After this parenthetic explanation, the words "the sons of Reuben, the first-born of Israel," Ch1 5:1, are again taken up in Ch1 5:3, and the sons are enumerated. The names of the four sons correspond to those given in Gen 46:9; Exo 6:14, and Num 26:5-7.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Sons of Israel - This is added emphatically, because they were treated as if they had been the immediate sons of Jacob. 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.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The sons of Reuben the first-born - As Reuben was the eldest son of Jacob, why was not his genealogy reviewed first? This verse answers the question; he lost the birth-right because of the transgression mentioned Gen 35:22; Gen 49:4, and the precedency was given to Judah; from him therefore came the chief ruler. This appears to be the meaning of the place.

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¹⁴ For [1063] it is evident [4271] that [3754] our [2257] Lord [2962] sprang [393] out of [1537] Juda [2455]; of [1519] which [3739] tribe [5443] Moses [3475] spake [2980] nothing [3762] concerning [4012] priesthood [2420].

⁵ And now thy two [08147] sons [01121], Ephraim [0669] and Manasseh [04519], which were born [03205] unto thee in the land [0776] of Egypt [04714] before [05704] I came [0935] unto thee into Egypt [04714], are mine; as Reuben [07205] and Simeon [08095], they shall be mine.

¹⁷ But he shall acknowledge [05234] the son [01121] of the hated [08130] for the firstborn [01060], by giving [05414] him a double [08147] portion [06310] of all that he hath [04672]: for he is the beginning [07225] of his strength [0202]; the right [04941] of the firstborn [01062] is his.

¹ Now the sons [01121] of Reuben [07205] the firstborn [01060] of Israel [03478], (for he was the firstborn [01060]; but, forasmuch as he defiled [02490] his father's [01] bed [03326], his birthright [01062] was given [05414] unto the sons [01121] of Joseph [03130] the son [01121] of Israel [03478]: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned [03187] after the birthright [01062].
² For Judah [03063] prevailed [01396] above his brethren [0251], and of him came the chief ruler [05057]; but the birthright [01062] was Joseph's [03130]:)
³ The sons [01121], I say, of Reuben [07205] the firstborn [01060] of Israel [03478] were, Hanoch [02585], and Pallu [06396], Hezron [02696], and Carmi [03756].
⁴ The sons [01121] of Joel [03100]; Shemaiah [08098] his son [01121], Gog [01463] his son [01121], Shimei [08096] his son [01121],
⁵ Micah [04318] his son [01121], Reaia [07211] his son [01121], Baal [01168] his son [01121],
⁶ Beerah [0880] his son [01121], whom Tilgathpilneser [08407] king [04428] of Assyria [0804] carried away [01540] captive: he was prince [05387] of the Reubenites [07206].
⁷ And his brethren [0251] by their families [04940], when the genealogy [03187] of their generations [08435] was reckoned [03187], were the chief [07218], Jeiel [03273], and Zechariah [02148],
⁸ And Bela [01106] the son [01121] of Azaz [05811], the son [01121] of Shema [08087], the son [01121] of Joel [03100], who dwelt [03427] in Aroer [06177], even unto Nebo [05015] and Baalmeon [01186]:
⁹ And eastward [04217] he inhabited [03427] unto the entering [0935] in of the wilderness [04057] from the river [05104] Euphrates [06578]: because their cattle [04735] were multiplied [07235] in the land [0776] of Gilead [01568].
¹⁰ And in the days [03117] of Saul [07586] they made [06213] war [04421] with the Hagarites [01905], who fell [05307] by their hand [03027]: and they dwelt [03427] in their tents [0168] throughout [06440] all the east [04217] land of Gilead [01568].

² But thou, Bethlehem [01035] Ephratah [0672], though thou be little [06810] among the thousands [0505] of Judah [03063], yet out of thee shall he come forth [03318] unto me that is to be ruler [04910] in Israel [03478]; whose goings forth [04163] have been from of old [06924], from everlasting [03117] [05769].

²² Moreover I have given [05414] to thee one [0259] portion [07926] above thy brethren [0251], which I took [03947] out of the hand [03027] of the Amorite [0567] with my sword [02719] and with my bow [07198].

⁵ Reuben [07205], the eldest [01060] son of Israel [03478]: the children [01121] of Reuben [07205]; Hanoch [02585], of whom cometh the family [04940] of the Hanochites [02599]: of Pallu [06396], the family [04940] of the Palluites [06384]:
⁶ Of Hezron [02696], the family [04940] of the Hezronites [02697]: of Carmi [03756], the family [04940] of the Carmites [03757].
⁷ These are the families [04940] of the Reubenites [07206]: and they that were numbered [06485] of them were forty [0705] and three [07969] thousand [0505] and seven [07651] hundred [03967] and thirty [07970].

¹⁴ These be the heads [07218] of their fathers [01]' houses [01004]: The sons [01121] of Reuben [07205] the firstborn [01060] of Israel [03478]; Hanoch [02585], and Pallu [06396], Hezron [02696], and Carmi [03756]: these be the families [04940] of Reuben [07205].

⁹ And the sons [01121] of Reuben [07205]; Hanoch [02585], and Phallu [06396], and Hezron [02696], and Carmi [03756].

³ The sons [01121], I say, of Reuben [07205] the firstborn [01060] of Israel [03478] were, Hanoch [02585], and Pallu [06396], Hezron [02696], and Carmi [03756].

¹⁵ If a man [0376] have two [08147] wives [0802], one [0259] beloved [0157], and another [0259] hated [08130], and they have born [03205] him children [01121], both the beloved [0157] and the hated [08130]; and if the firstborn [01060] son [01121] be hers that was hated [08146]:
¹⁶ Then it shall be, when [03117] he maketh his sons [01121] to inherit [05157] that which he hath, that he may [03201] not make the son [01121] of the beloved [0157] firstborn [01069] before [06440] the son [01121] of the hated [08130], which is indeed the firstborn [01060]:
¹⁷ But he shall acknowledge [05234] the son [01121] of the hated [08130] for the firstborn [01060], by giving [05414] him a double [08147] portion [06310] of all that he hath [04672]: for he is the beginning [07225] of his strength [0202]; the right [04941] of the firstborn [01062] is his.

³⁰ And it shall come to pass, when the LORD [03068] shall have done [06213] to my lord [0113] according to all the good [02896] that he hath spoken [01696] concerning thee, and shall have appointed [06680] thee ruler [05057] over Israel [03478];

¹⁴ But now thy kingdom [04467] shall not continue [06965]: the LORD [03068] hath sought [01245] him a man [0376] after his own heart [03824], and the LORD [03068] hath commanded [06680] him to be captain [05057] over his people [05971], because thou hast not kept [08104] that which the LORD [03068] commanded [06680] thee.

⁴ Howbeit the LORD [03068] God [0430] of Israel [03478] chose [0977] me before all the house [01004] of my father [01] to be king [04428] over Israel [03478] for ever [05769]: for he hath chosen [0977] Judah [03063] to be the ruler [05057]; and of the house [01004] of Judah [03063], the house [01004] of my father [01]; and among the sons [01121] of my father [01] he liked [07521] me to make me king [04427] over all Israel [03478]:

¹ Now after [0310] the death [04194] of Joshua [03091] it came to pass, that the children [01121] of Israel [03478] asked [07592] the LORD [03068], saying [0559], Who shall go up [05927] for us against the Canaanites [03669] first [08462], to fight [03898] against them?

⁸ Judah [03063], thou art he whom thy brethren [0251] shall praise [03034]: thy hand [03027] shall be in the neck [06203] of thine enemies [0341]; thy father's [01] children [01121] shall bow down [07812] before thee.
⁹ Judah [03063] is a lion's [0738] whelp [01482]: from the prey [02964], my son [01121], thou art gone up [05927]: he stooped down [03766], he couched [07257] as a lion [0738], and as an old lion [03833]; who shall rouse him up [06965]?
¹⁰ The sceptre [07626] shall not depart [05493] from Judah [03063], nor a lawgiver [02710] from between his feet [07272], until [03588] Shiloh [07886] come [0935]; and unto him shall the gathering [03349] of the people [05971] be.
¹¹ Binding [0631] his foal [05895] unto the vine [01612], and his ass's [0860] colt [01121] unto the choice vine [08321]; he washed [03526] his garments [03830] in wine [03196], and his clothes [05497] in the blood [01818] of grapes [06025]:
¹² His eyes [05869] shall be red [02447] with wine [03196], and his teeth [08127] white [03836] with milk [02461].

² For Judah [03063] prevailed [01396] above his brethren [0251], and of him came the chief ruler [05057]; but the birthright [01062] was Joseph's [03130]:)

⁴ Unstable [06349] as water [04325], thou shalt not excel [03498]; because thou wentest up [05927] to thy father's [01] bed [04904]; then defiledst thou [02490] it: he went up [05927] to my couch [03326].

² For Judah [03063] prevailed [01396] above his brethren [0251], and of him came the chief ruler [05057]; but the birthright [01062] was Joseph's [03130]:)

²² And it came to pass, when Israel [03478] dwelt [07931] in that land [0776], that Reuben [07205] went [03212] and lay [07901] with Bilhah [01090] his father's [01] concubine [06370]: and Israel [03478] heard [08085] it. Now the sons [01121] of Jacob [03290] were twelve [08147] [06240]: