Reuben

The sons of Reuben(A) the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed,(B) his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph(C) son of Israel;(D) so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright,(E) and though Judah(F) was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler(G) came from him, the rights of the firstborn(H) belonged to Joseph)—

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Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:)

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Descendants of Reuben

The oldest son of Israel[a] was Reuben. But since he dishonored his father by sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, his birthright was given to the sons of his brother Joseph. For this reason, Reuben is not listed in the genealogical records as the firstborn son. The descendants of Judah became the most powerful tribe and provided a ruler for the nation,[b] but the birthright belonged to Joseph.

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Footnotes

  1. 5:1 Israel is the name that God gave to Jacob.
  2. 5:2 Or and from Judah came a prince.

Descendants of Reuben

The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel ((A)for he was the firstborn, but because (B)he defiled his father's couch, (C)his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he could not be enrolled as the oldest son; (D)though Judah became strong among his brothers and a (E)chief came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph),

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