Numbers 26:5

5 Re'uven, the firstborn of Yisra'el; the sons of Re'uven: [of] Hanokh, the family of the Hanokhi; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites;

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 Moshe and El`azar the Kohen spoke with them in the plains of Mo'av by the Yarden at Yericho, saying,

4 [Take the sum of the people], from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moshe and the children of Yisra'el, that came forth out of the land of Mitzrayim.

5 Re'uven, the firstborn of Yisra'el; the sons of Re'uven: [of] Hanokh, the family of the Hanokhi; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites;

6 of Hetzron, the family of the Hetzroni; of Karmi, the family of the Karmi.

7 These are the families of the Re'uveni; and those who were numbered of them were forty-three thousand seven hundred thirty.