King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, [of whom cometh] the family of the Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the Palluites:
Complete Jewish Bible:
[The census results begin with] Re'uven, the firstborn of Isra'el. The descendants of Re'uven were: of Hanokh, the family of the Hanokhi; of Pallu, the family of the Pallu'i;
Berean Standard Bible:
Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. These were the descendants of Reuben: The Hanochite clan from Hanoch, the Palluite clan from Pallu,
American Standard Version:
Reuben, the first-born of Israel; the sons of Reuben: of Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Reuben{H7205}, the eldest{H1060} son of Israel{H3478}: the children{H1121} of Reuben{H7205}; Hanoch{H2585}, of whom cometh the family{H4940} of the Hanochites{H2599}: of Pallu{H6396}, the family{H4940} of the Palluites{H6384}:
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Chronicles 5:3
- The sons, [I say], of Reuben the firstborn of Israel [were], Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
Genesis 46:8
- And these [are] the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn.
Genesis 46:9
- And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.
Exodus 6:14
- ¶ These [be] the heads of their fathers' houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these [be] the families of Reuben.
1 Chronicles 5:1
- ¶ 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.
Genesis 49:2
- Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.
Genesis 49:3
- Reuben, thou [art] my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
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Commentary for Numbers 26:5
Numbers 26:5 is part of a larger census conducted in the wilderness of Moab, near the end of the Israelites' 40-year wandering in the desert, just before their entry into the Promised Land. This census was intended to count the new generation of Israelites, as the previous generation had died out due to their unfaithfulness and disobedience to God. The book of Numbers records the detailed genealogies and counts of each tribe, ensuring that every tribe of Israel was represented and that the Levites, who were responsible for the tabernacle service, were numbered separately.
In Numbers 26:5, the verse specifically mentions Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob (also known as Israel), and lists the names of two of his grandsons, Hanoch and Pallu, along with the names of the clans that descended from them, the Hanochites and the Palluites. This reflects the patriarchal structure of Israelite society, where descent and inheritance were traced through the male line, and tribal identity was of utmost importance for maintaining the social and religious order.
The historical context of this verse is significant because it shows the continuity of the Israelite tribes despite the hardships they faced in the wilderness. It also sets the stage for the division of the land of Canaan among the tribes, as the census numbers were used to apportion the land. The mention of Reuben as the firstborn highlights the theme of primacy and leadership, although Reuben's tribe did not always take the leading role due to Reuben's own past misdeeds (see Genesis 35:22, 49:3-4). This verse, therefore, not only serves as a record of lineage but also as a reminder of the complex dynamics of inheritance and leadership within the nation of Israel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7205
There are 68 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רְאוּבֵן
Transliteration: Rᵉʼûwbên
Pronunciation: reh-oo-bane'
Description: from the imperative of רָאָה and בֵּן; see ye a son; Reuben, a son of Jacob; Reuben. - Strong's Number: H1060
There are 96 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּכוֹר
Transliteration: bᵉkôwr
Pronunciation: bek-ore'
Description: from בָּכַר; firstborn; hence, chief; eldest (son), firstborn(-ling). - Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H2585
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֲנוֹךְ
Transliteration: Chănôwk
Pronunciation: khan-oke'
Description: from חָנַךְ; initiated; Chanok, an antediluvian patriach; Enoch. - Strong's Number: H4940
There are 224 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִשְׁפָּחָה
Transliteration: mishpâchâh
Pronunciation: mish-paw-khaw'
Description: from שָׁפָה (compare שִׁפְחָה); a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people; family, kind(-red). - Strong's Number: H2599
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֲנֹכִי
Transliteration: Chănôkîy
Pronunciation: khan-o-kee'
Description: patronymically from חֲנוֹךְ; a Chanokite (collectively) or descendants of Chanok; Hanochites. - Strong's Number: H6396
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פַּלּוּא
Transliteration: Pallûwʼ
Pronunciation: pal-loo'
Description: from פָּלָה; distinguished; Pallu, an Israelite; Pallu, Phallu. - Strong's Number: H6384
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פַּלֻּאִי
Transliteration: Palluʼîy
Pronunciation: pal-loo-ee'
Description: patronymically from פַּלּוּא; a Palluite (collectively) or descendants of Pallu; Palluites.