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Genesis 35 · a question people ask

Did Reuben's act with Bilhah have consequences?

In the text

This chapter says only, "Israel heard of it" (35:22). On his deathbed Jacob tells Reuben, "you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed" (49:3-4). Chronicles explains: "because he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel" (1 Chronicles 5:1).

The verses

“While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.”
Genesis 35:22 · World English Bible
““Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in dignity, and excelling in power. 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.”
Genesis 49:3-4 · World English Bible
“The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; and the genealogy is not to be listed according to the birthright.”
1 Chronicles 5:1 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Genesis 35

Genesis 35: Back to Bethel

Jacob's household put away their foreign gods and went back to Bethel, where God confirmed the name Israel and the promise: "Be fruitful and multiply… kings will come out of your body." Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin on the way to Bethlehem; she called him son of my sorrow, and Jacob son of the right hand. Now Jacob had twelve sons, and he and Esau buried their father.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions