Reuben thou art my first borne] As the eldest sonne, there belonged to him divers worthy, and honourable priviledges; as that when the father was dead, he succeeded him in the headship of the family, so that his younger brethren were to reverence him, and rise up unto him as a father; to maintaine the honour of this preeminence, he was to have a double portion to any of the rest in the estate of his father. So was it established by expresse Law in Moses time, that if a man had two wives, the one beloved, the other hated, or lsse loved, (as it was with Jacob, Gen. 29. 30, 31.) he might not make th sonne of the beloved first borne, but should acknowledge the sonne of the hated first borne, by giving him a double portion of all that he had, Deuteronomy 21:17. which, (though not by the instinct of nature, yet by some revealed light) with many other Ceremoniall particulars (which came into an expresse Law in after times) was in use and practice among the Patriarchs before the Law was written. See Annot. on Chap. 35. vers. 2. &on Chap. 48. 5: 5. my might and the beginning] That is, the first effect of my paternall power, and vigour, whereby God enabled me to beget thee as a father first of all; and the first that of my family, and off-spring had the manhood and maturitie of strength, as Deuteronomy 21:17. &Psalms 78:51. Or, who by thy senioritie and eldership shouldest have beene the prime Pillar of my family. the excellency of] Thou shouldest, and mightest, as my first borne, have enioyed an excellencie of dignity, power, and authoritie (with a double portion, as Deuteronomy 21:17.) above thy brethren, and therein I should now have confirmed thee, and thy posteritie after thee, by my fatherly benediction, if thou hadst not lost thy birthright by thine offence; but as thou hast behaved thy selfe I must from God speak of thee otherwise then in my fatherly affection I could wish, or thou out of love to thy selfe wilt be willing to heare.