Boiling over like water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 4. Grow thou not. This was not meant by way of a curse or imprecation; but by way of a prophecy, foretelling that the tribe of Ruben should not inherit the pre-eminences usually annexed to the first birth-right, that is the double portion, the being prince or lord over the other brethren, and the priesthood: of which the double portion was given to Joseph, the princely office to Juda, and the priesthood to Levi. Challoner.—Thou hast abandoned thyself to thy brutal passion; do so no more, ne adjicias. Saint Jerome q. Hebrew Let Ruben live, and die not; let him be small in number. Deuteronomy 33:6. His tribe never became very considerable. Calmet.—Couch. See Calmet. 35:22. Eternal infamy attends the name of Ruben. Bible.