Numbers 26:5

5 Reuben was Israel's firstborn. The descendants of Reuben were the family of Hanoch, the family of Pallu,

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 So Moses and the priest Eleazar spoke to the Israelites on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River across from Jericho. They said,

4 "Take a census of those at least 20 years old, as the LORD commanded Moses." These are the Israelites who came from Egypt:

5 Reuben was Israel's firstborn. The descendants of Reuben were the family of Hanoch, the family of Pallu,

6 the family of Hezron, and the family of Carmi.

7 These were the families of Reuben. The total number of men was 43,730.