1 Chronicles 5:2

2 Judah was the leader among his brothers. A ruler came from his family line. But the rights of the oldest son belonged to Joseph.

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.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 Licet, ibid. (Tigurine version)

1 Chronicles 5:2 In-Context

1 Here is a list of the sons of Reuben. First, here are a few things about him. Reuben was the oldest son of Israel. But he had sex with his father's concubine. He made his father's bed "unclean." That's why his rights as the oldest son were given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel. So Reuben isn't listed in the family history as the one who had the rights of the oldest son.

2 Judah was the leader among his brothers. A ruler came from his family line. But the rights of the oldest son belonged to Joseph.

3 Reuben was the oldest son of Israel. Reuben's sons were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron and Carmi.

4 The family line of Joel includes his son Shemaiah. Gog was the son of Shemaiah. Shimei was the son of Gog.

5 Micah was the son of Shimei. Reaiah was the son of Micah. Baal was the son of Reaiah.