1883 Haydock Douay Rheims Bible
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| Genesis 49:4 | Thou art poured out as water, grow thou not; *because thou wentest up to thy father's bed, and didst defile his couch. Genesis 35:22.; 1 Paralipomenon 5:1. | 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, 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) --- Thou hast abandoned thyself to thy brutal passion; do so no more, ne adjicias. (St. Jerome, q. Heb.) Let Ruben live, and die not; let him be small in number, Deuteronomy 33:6. His tribe never became very considerable. (Calmet) --- Couch. See chap 35:22. Eternal infamy attends the name of Ruben. (Haydock) |