Verse 1
Now the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel ,.... Are as follow in 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, 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 of Jacob, and became distinct tribes, and each had their lot in the land of Canaan, see Genesis 48:5 compared with Deuteronomy 21:17 .
and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright ; or, "but the genealogy", &c.; F15 "Nee tamen", Tigurine version. ; neither after the birthright of Reuben, which he had by nature, being Jacob's firstborn; nor after the birthright of Joseph, which be had by his father's gift, as it might be thought it should; the reason of which follows.
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