1 Chronicles 5:1

Reuben’s Descendants

5:1 The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn –

(Now he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s bed, ¹  his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph, Israel’s son. So Reuben is not listed as firstborn in the genealogical records. ² 

1 Chronicles 19:3

19:3 the Ammonite officials said to Hanun, “Do you really think David is trying to honor your father by sending these messengers to express his sympathy? ³  No, his servants have come to you so they can get information and spy out the land!” ⁴ 

1 Chronicles 28:9

28:9 “And you, Solomon my son, obey ⁵  the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, ⁶  for the Lord examines all minds and understands every motive of one’s thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, ⁷  but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently.

---

¹ sn The phrase when he defiled his father’s bed refers to Reuben having sexual relations with his father Jacob’s concubine Bilhah. This incident is recorded in Gen 35:22.

² tn Heb “and not to be listed in the genealogical records as (having) the right of the firstborn.”

³ tn Heb “Is David honoring your father in your eyes when he sends to you ones consoling?”

⁴ tc Heb “Is it not to explore and to overturn and to spy out the land (that) his servants have come to you?” The Hebrew term לַהֲפֹךְ (lahafakh, “to overturn”) seems misplaced in the sequence. Some emend the form to לַחְפֹּר (lakhpor, “to spy out”). The sequence of three infinitives may be a conflation of alternative readings.

⁵ tn Heb “know.”

⁶ tn Heb “with a complete heart and a willing being.”

⁷ tn Heb “he will allow himself to be found by you.”