1 Chronicles 5:2

2 For Y'hudah became greater than his brothers, inasmuch as the ruler came from him; nevertheless, the birthright went to Yosef.

1 Chronicles 5:2 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 5:2

For Judah prevailed above his brethren
That is, the tribe of Judah prevailed above the rest in number, in valour, and courage, and in dignity; wherefore the genealogy is not reckoned according to birthright, but dignity and dominion; hence this genealogical account began with Judah,

[because] of him [came] the chief ruler;
David and the kings of Judah, his successors; and above all, from him the Prince Messiah was to spring, and did, according to ( Genesis 49:10 ) so both the Syriac and Arabic versions read,

``out of Judah should go forth the King Messiah:''

but the birthright [was] Joseph's
or "though" ^F16 it was; yet Judah having the dominion and dignity, that tribe is first genealogized.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F16 Licet, ibid. (Tigurine version)

1 Chronicles 5:2 In-Context

1 The sons of Re'uven the firstborn of Isra'el - he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Yosef the son of Isra'el, though not in such a way as for him to be regarded in the genealogy as the firstborn.

2 For Y'hudah became greater than his brothers, inasmuch as the ruler came from him; nevertheless, the birthright went to Yosef.

3 So these are the sons of Re'uven the firstborn of Isra'el: Hanokh, Pallu, Hetzron and Karmi.

4 The descendants of Yo'el: his son Sh'ma'yah, his son Gog, his son Shim'i,

5 his son Mikhah, his son Re'ayah, his son Ba'al,