Na aveeseina le tofi o Reupena ma tuuina atu i atalii o Iosefa. What does the Bible say about the reason why Rueben lost his birthright and why it was given to the sons of Joseph and not to Simeon, the second son of Jacob?
What is the reason why Rueben’s birthright was taken from him
Reuben was the eldest son of Jacob (Isaraelu). Rueben was the firstborn, who should have gotten his birthright. But Rueben didn’t receive the birthright he was entitled to. Aisea? Because Reuben defiled his father Jacob’s bed. Faʻafefea? Reuben defiled his father Jacob’s bed by being intimate with Bilhah, his father’s concubine.
Who received Rueben’s birthright?
Rueben’s birthright was given to the sons of Joseph.
And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar. Ma na oo mai e pasi, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it (Kenese 35:21-22)
Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; ae, 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 (1 Nofoaiga a Tupu 5:1-2))
Rueben lost his birthright because of an act of lust
Reuben lost his birthright through one act of lust. Jacob took the sons of Joseph and called them his. Jacob considered the sons of Joseph as his own sons Rueben and Simeon:
And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance (Kenese 48:5-6)
Why did Rueben’s birthright go to Joseph’s sons and not Simeon?
But what about the other sons of Jacob? When Reuben lost his birthright, you might think that Rueben’s birthright would be passed on to the second son Simeon. But Simeon didn’t inherit Reuben’s birthright. Why didn’t Simeon inherit Rueben’s birthright? We read the answer in Genesis chapter 49, where Jacob spoke his last words to his sons:
And Jacob called unto his sons, ma fai mai, Gather yourselves together, ina ia mafai ona ou taʼu atu ia te outou le mea e oo mai ia te outou i aso e gata ai. Gather yourselves together, ma faalogo, outou atalii o Iakopo; ma ia outou faalogo ia Isaraelu lo outou tamā.
Reupena, o oe o la'u ulumatua, lo'u malosi, ma le amataga o lo’u malosi, le mamalu o le mamalu, ma le silisiliese o le mana: Le mautu e pei o le vai, e te le sili; auā na e alu a‘e i le moega o lou tamā; ‘ona e fa‘aleagaina ai lea: sa alu a’e o ia i lo’u moega
Simeona ma Levi o uso; ‘ua i ai i o latou nu‘u mea faigaluega o le sauā. Lo'u agaga e, aua e te alu atu i lo latou mea lilo; i lo latou faapotopotoga, lo'u mamalu, aua tou te lotogatasi: auā o lo latou ita na latou fasioti ai i le tagata, ma i lo latou loto malie na latou eli i lalo le pa. Ia malaia lo latou ita, auā sa sauā; ma lo latou ita, auā sa saua: ou te vaevaeina i latou ia Iakopo, ma faataapeapeina i latou i Isaraelu.
Iuta, o oe lea e viia e ou uso: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, lo'u atalii, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk
Sepulona shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.
Isakara is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.
Ma shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. I have waited for thy salvation, Le Alii e.
Kato, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.
Nafatali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.
Iosefa is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (mai iina le leoleo mamoe, le maa o Isaraelu:) e ala i le Atua o lou tamā, o ai e fesoasoani ia te oe; ma e le Silisiliese, o lē na te fa‘amanuia ‘iā te oe i fa‘amanuiaga o le lagi i lugā, o faamanuiaga o le loloto o loo taoto i lalo, manuia o susu, ma le manava: Ua sili atu faamanuiaga a lou tamā i faamanuiaga a o’u augatama e oo atu i le tuaoi o mauga e faavavau.: e i luga o le ulu o Iosefa, ma i luga o le tumutumu o le ua vavae ese mai ona uso
Peniamina e taufetuli e pei o se luko: o le taeao na te ‘aina ai le vete, a o le po na te vaevaeina le vete.
O i latou uma ia o ituaiga e sefulu ma le lua o Isaraelu: ma o le mea lenei na fai atu ai lo latou tamā ia te i latou, ma faamanuia ia te i latou; ta‘ito‘atasi e tusa ma lona manuia na ia fa‘amanuia atu ai ‘iā te i latou (Kenese 49: 1-28)
“Ia avea ma masima o le lalolagi”
