Numbers 26:5

5 Reuben the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, [of whom cometh] the family of the Hanochites: Of Phallu, the family of the Phalluites:

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 And Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho, saying,

4 [Take the sum of the people], from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, who went forth from the land of Egypt.

5 Reuben the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, [of whom cometh] the family of the Hanochites: Of Phallu, the family of the Phalluites:

6 Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.

7 These [are] the families of the Reubenites: and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty.