Numbers 26:5

5 Reuben, Israel's oldest son. Reuben's descendants: from Hanoch, the Hanochite clan; from Pallu, the Palluite clan;

Numbers 26:5 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 26:5

Reuben, the eldest son of Israel
the number of his tribe is taken first on that account; there were four families that descended from him, the Hanochite, Palluite, Hesronite, and Carmite, and the number of men from twenty years old and upwards, fit for war, were 43,730; so that, since the last numbering, this tribe was decreased 2770; which may in part be accounted for by the families of Dathan and Abiram being cut off for their rebellion, who were this tribe, and whose affair is briefly related in the following verses, and it may be to point out this unto us.

Numbers 26:5 In-Context

3 Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke to the people on the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho:

4 "Take a census of those 20 years old and above as the LORD commanded Moses." The Israelites who left the land of Egypt were:

5 Reuben, Israel's oldest son. Reuben's descendants: from Hanoch, the Hanochite clan; from Pallu, the Palluite clan;

6 from Hezron, the Hezronite clan; from Carmi, the Carmite clan.

7 These are the Reubenite clans. Their enrollment was 43,730.