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)

²² While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine^(A) Bilhah,^(B) and Israel heard of it.

Jacob had twelve sons:

¹⁵ Then he blessed^(A) Joseph and said,

¹⁷ When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand^(J) on Ephraim’s head^(K) he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. ¹⁸ Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”^(L)

¹⁹ But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great.^(M) Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he,^(N) and his descendants will become a group of nations.^(O)” ²⁰ He blessed^(P) them that day^(Q) and said,

So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

²¹ Then Israel said to Joseph, “I am about to die, but God will be with you^[b](V) and take you^[c] back to the land of your^[d] fathers.^{(W) 22} And to you I give one more ridge of land^[e](X) than to your brothers,^(Y) the ridge I took from the Amorites with my sword^(Z) and my bow.”

³² Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.^(A) She named him Reuben,^[a](B) for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery.^(C) Surely my husband will love me now.”

Dealing With a Case of Incest

5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.^(A)

Israel’s Sons^(A)

2 These were the sons of Israel: