Reuben

5 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)

² and though Judah^(A) was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler^(B) came from him, the rights of the firstborn^(C) belonged to Joseph)—

⁴ “Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me^(A) from my whole family^(B) to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah^(C) as leader, and from the tribe of Judah he chose my family, and from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel.^(D)