Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Chronicles 5:1

1 NOw the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel, (for he was the first-born , but forasmuch as he defiled his fathers bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the sons of Israel : and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birth-right .

These and the following words to v. 3. which are inclosed within a Parenthesis, seem to be inserted here as an Answer to a secret Objection, or as a Reason why Reubens Genealogy was not set down first, but Iudah's was put before it, which is double, the first follows immediately, the other is in the last Clause of this Verse.

i. e. The Right of the First-born, which, although it contain in it something of Dominion, Gen. 27. 1. 32. which Ioseph had in his own person, Gen. 49. Yet principally consisted in having a double Portion, as appears from Deut. 21. 17. which Ioseph enjoyed both in his Person and in his Posterity, which had 2 Parts of twelve in Canaan. And it is Iosephs Posterity which is here considered.

Ephraim and Manasseh, each having a distinct Portion.

This is added emphatically, because they were reputed and treated as if they had been the immediate Sons of Iacob: of which see Gen. 48. 5.

This is the second Reason, which sheweth both why R[illegible: 1+ letters]bens Genealogy was not first mentioned; and if another Tribe was to be ranked before it, why that was Iudah, and not Ioseph, as it might seem most fit for the former Reason; because, [illegible: 1+ letters]aith he, the Order of their Genealogy was not to be ruled by the Birthright, but by an higher Priviledge, which was given to Iudah, and which here follows.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 span].