Reuven Forfeited First-Born Rights
Question
1 Chronicles 5:1: Now the sons of Rueven, the first born of Yisrael, but for as much as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Yoseph the son of Yisrael: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.
Would you explain the impact this would have on the sons of Rueven? Would they have any inheritance? Did the sons of Yoseph have double the inheritance?
Answers
The Rabbis teach that Reuven lost the rights to have the status as the first-born, and those rights were transferred to Yosef.
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