1 Chronicles 5:1

Reuben was Israel's firstborn, but he lost the birthright because he defiled his father's couch, and it passed to Joseph's sons. It explains why Reuben's line is not listed first by rank.

Cross-references · 20

• Gen 35:22While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:
• Gen 29:32And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”
• Gen 48:15–22Then he blessed Joseph and said: “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,
• Gen 49:3–4Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.
• Exod 6:14These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Reuben.
• 1 Cor 5:1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.
• 1 Chr 26:10Hosah the Merarite also had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him as the first),
• Deut 27:20‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
• Lev 18:8You must not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; it would dishonor your father.
• Josh 14:6Then the sons of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me.
• Num 26:5Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. These were the descendants of Reuben: The Hanochite clan from Hanoch, the Palluite clan from Pallu,
• Lev 20:11If a man lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
• Num 1:5These are the names of the men who are to assist you: From the tribe of Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;
• 1 Chr 2:1These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
• Deut 21:17Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.
• Num 16:1Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath son of Levi, along with some Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—conducted
• Gen 46:8Now these are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.
• Gen 25:23and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
• 1 Sam 16:6–11When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely here before the LORD is His anointed.”
• Col 1:15The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

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