1 Chronicles 5:1

“Now the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, etc.] Are as follow in (<130503>1 Chronicles 5:3) where the account begins; for what comes between this and that is in a parenthesis: for he was the firstborn; of Jacob by his wife Leah; that must be owned, and Jacob allows it, (<014903>Genesis 49:3) and yet the genealogy in this book begins not with him, as might on that account be expected; the reason follows: but forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed: by lying with Bilhah his concubine: his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; his beloved son by his beloved wife Rachel and so had a double portion given him; his two sons being equally ranked with the other sons…”

“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…”

“His birthright was given ... - In particular, the right of the first-born to a double inheritance Deuteronomy 21:17 was conferred on Joseph, both by the expressed will of Jacob Genesis 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 Micah 5:2. return to 'Top of Page'”

“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. 1 Chronicles 5:2”

“5:1-24 Chapter 5 records the genealogies for Reuben (5:1-10; cp. Gen 46:9), Gad (1 Chr 5:11-17), and Manasseh (5:23-24), the tribes of Israel that settled in Transjordan (the area east of the Jordan River). 5:1-2 Although Reuben was the oldest son of Israel, he did not receive his birthright because he had sexual relations with his father’s concubine (Gen 35:22). Jacob transferred this right to Joseph when he elevated Ephraim and Manasseh to full membership among the tribes (Gen 48:5). This gave Joseph the double portion that traditionally belonged to the firstborn (Deut 21:15-17). As Jacob foresaw, Judah surpassed his brothers and became the forefather of the ruling tribe (Gen 49:8-10).…”

“am 2294, etc. bc 1710, etc he was: Ch1 2:1; Gen 29:32, Gen 46:8, Gen 49:3; Exo 6:14; Num 1:5, Num 16:1, Num 26:5 forasmuch: Gen 35:22, Gen 49:4; Lev 18:8, Lev 20:11; Deu 27:20; Co1 5:1 birthright: Ch1 26:10; Gen 48:15-22; Deu 21:17; Col 1:15 and: Gen 25:23; Sa1 16:6-11 reckoned: Jos 14:6 1 Chronicles 5:2”

“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…”