Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 5:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 5:1-2

"Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s:)"

John Taylor has a nice description of what was taking place here.

"..that because Reuben defiled his father's bed, the birthright was taken from him and given to the sons of Joseph; and the Priesthood was reckoned after that lineage, though Judah prevailed above his brethren to this extent, that through him came the Chief Ruler of Israel, while unto Ephraim, the son of Joseph, was given the keys of the Priesthood—or those rights that apply to the birthright. Of the two sons of Joseph—Ephraim and Manasseh, the Lord said, Manasseh shall be great, but Ephraim shall be greater than he; and he shall become a multitude in the earth.(Genesis 48:19)"

(John Taylor, The Order and Duties of the Priesthood, JD21:358)

Day 2502

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 42:22, 37

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 42:22, 37

"And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.

And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again."

I see in Reuben a man that has a repentant heart. He lost his birthright to Joseph because of his moral transgression with Bilhah his father's concubine. Then he tries to stop his brothers from killing Joseph by suggesting they put him in a pit, and that they would deliver him to their father again. He rents his clothes when he finds Joseph gone from the pit. Now in Egypt when they have no idea that it is Joseph listening to them, Reuben feels blood is required to atone for what was done to Joseph. He is later willing to offer his own sons if he does not return Benjamin back to his father. I had never really thought about Reuben when reading this story before, but now I see him in a new light.

Day 2201