1 Chronicles 5:1

1 Also the sons of Reuben, the first begotten son of Israel; for he was the first begotten son of Israel, but when he had defouled the bed of his father, the dignity of his first begetting was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel; and Reuben was not areckoned into the first begotten son (and so Reuben was not reckoned as the first-born son).

1 Chronicles 5:1 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 5:1

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 Genesis 48:22 ) compared with ( Deuteronomy 21:17 )

and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright;
or, "but the genealogy" ^F15; 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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FOOTNOTES:

F15 "Nee tamen", Tigurine version.

1 Chronicles 5:1 In-Context

1 Also the sons of Reuben, the first begotten son of Israel; for he was the first begotten son of Israel, but when he had defouled the bed of his father, the dignity of his first begetting was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel; and Reuben was not areckoned into the first begotten son (and so Reuben was not reckoned as the first-born son).

2 Forsooth (of) Judah, that was the strongest among his brethren, princes were gathered of his generation (But from Judah, who was the strongest among his brothers, came the leader for all the tribes); forsooth the right of first begetting was areckoned to Joseph.

3 Therefore the sons of Reuben, the first begotten son of Israel, were Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

4 The sons of Joel were Shemaiah; his son, Gog; his son, Shimei;

5 his son, Micah; his son, Reaia; his son, Baal;