Unstable as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled it: he went up to my couch.
All Commentaries on Genesis 49:4 Go To Genesis 49
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
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 xxxiii. 6. His tribe never became very considerable. (Calmet)
Couch. See chap xxxv. 22. Eternal infamy attends the name of Ruben. (Haydock)
