Gen 49:4 | CPDV | STEP | You are being poured out like water, may you not increase. For you climbed onto your father’s bed, and you defiled his resting place.

‏ Genesis 49:4

4 You are being poured out like water, may you not increase. For you climbed onto your father’s bed, and you defiled his resting place. ^{▼▼49:4 may you not increase: 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 birthright, viz., 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)}