Numbers 1:20
And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּֽהְי֤וּ
H1961
וַיִּֽהְי֤וּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 21
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
מִבֶּ֨ן
And the children
H1121
מִבֶּ֨ן
And the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
2 of 21
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
Israel's
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
Israel's
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
5 of 21
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם
by their generations
H8435
תּֽוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם
by their generations
Strong's:
H8435
Word #:
6 of 21
(plural only) descent, i.e., family; (figuratively) history
לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם
after their families
H4940
לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם
after their families
Strong's:
H4940
Word #:
7 of 21
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
לְבֵ֣ית
by the house
H1004
לְבֵ֣ית
by the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
8 of 21
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
אֲבֹתָ֑ם
of their fathers
H1
אֲבֹתָ֑ם
of their fathers
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
9 of 21
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
בְּמִסְפַּ֤ר
according to the number
H4557
בְּמִסְפַּ֤ר
according to the number
Strong's:
H4557
Word #:
10 of 21
a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration
שֵׁמוֹת֙
of the names
H8034
שֵׁמוֹת֙
of the names
Strong's:
H8034
Word #:
11 of 21
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָ֔ם
by their polls
H1538
לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָ֔ם
by their polls
Strong's:
H1538
Word #:
12 of 21
a skull (as round); by implication, a head (in enumeration of persons)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
13 of 21
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
זָכָ֗ר
every male
H2145
זָכָ֗ר
every male
Strong's:
H2145
Word #:
14 of 21
properly, remembered, i.e., a male (of man or animals, as being the most noteworthy sex)
מִבֶּ֨ן
And the children
H1121
מִבֶּ֨ן
And the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
15 of 21
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וָמַ֔עְלָה
and upward
H4605
וָמַ֔עְלָה
and upward
Strong's:
H4605
Word #:
18 of 21
properly,the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc
כֹּ֖ל
H3605
כֹּ֖ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
19 of 21
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Historical Context
Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, forfeited the birthright to Joseph's sons due to defiling his father's bed. Though numbered here as Israel's 'eldest son,' the tribe never regained preeminence, settling east of the Jordan and later falling into apostasy.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Reuben's loss of birthright yet continued inclusion in Israel illustrate both the seriousness of sin and the persistence of grace?
- What does this teach us about God's covenant faithfulness to His people despite their failures?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Reuben's census, despite losing the birthright through sin (Genesis 35:22; 49:3-4), demonstrates both divine justice and mercy. The tribe lost preeminence but not inclusion in Israel, showing that while sin has consequences, God's covenant faithfulness preserves His people. The genealogical record 'by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers' emphasizes that covenant identity passes through families, anticipating the principle that believers and their children are in covenant with God.