“Let Reuben live, and not die; Nor let his men be few.”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 6. Number. This is conformable to the prophecy of Jacob, who deprived Ruben of his birth-right, on account of incest. He is even treated with indulgence, in being permitted to form one of the tribes. Yet some copies of the Septuagint Syr. (Theod. q. 42,) and many interpreters, take this in quite a contrary sense, “let him be numerous, or not few;” the negation being supplied from the former part of the verse, which is not unusual in Hebrew. See Genesis 2:6. Psalm 9:19. Proverbs 31:1, and so forth The tribe of Ruben was in effect more numerous than those of Gad, Joseph, or Benjamin. Simeon receives no blessing, probably on account of the crimes for which so many of that tribe were exterminated, (Numbers 1:23 and 26:14. Calmet.) and particularly Zambri, one of the chief princes. ib. Calmet. 25. Worthington.—But Grabe’s Septuagint applies to Simeon what the rest apply to Ruben. “And let Simeon be many in number.” No solid reason can be given why he should be passed over entirely, as, notwithstanding the infidelity of some of his children, and his own cruelty in not endeavouring to rescue Joseph, and so forth he was to form a tribe among his brethren. Bible.—Some, therefore, imagine that he was to share in the blessings of Ruben, or of Levi, (with whom he is joined by Jacob. Genesis 49:5,) or of Juda, near whom he had his allotment of the promised land. Part of the tribe of Simeon afterwards dwelt in the territories of Juda. Joshua 19:1. 1 Chronicles 4:42. Judges 1:3. But ( Calmet.) it is more likely that the name has been omitted or changed in the original, by the mistake of some early transcriber, in like manner as the tribe of Manasses, included in that of Joseph, seems to have been placed for that of Dan, which otherwise would be omitted. Revelation 7:6. 8. Some have recourse to a mystery in both these places. Bible.