The Family of Reuben^(A)

5 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—^(B)he was indeed the firstborn, but because he ^(C)defiled his father’s bed, ^(D)his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright;

²² And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and ^(A)lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine; and Israel heard about it.

Jacob’s Twelve Sons

Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

¹⁵ And ^(A)he blessed Joseph, and said:

¹⁷ Now when Joseph saw that his father ^(F)laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. ¹⁸ And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”

¹⁹ But his father refused and said, ^(G)“I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly ^(H)his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”

²⁰ So he blessed them that day, saying, ^(I)“By you Israel will bless, saying, ‘May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!’ ” And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

²¹ Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but ^(J)God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. ²² Moreover ^(K)I have given to you one ^[a]portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand ^(L)of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”

³² So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name ^[a]Reuben; for she said, “The Lord has surely ^(A)looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.”