³ “Reuben, my ·first son [firstborn], you are my strength.
    ·Your birth showed I could be a father [^L…and the first of my virility/vigor].
·You have the highest position among my sons [^L…excelling in pride/rank/authority],
    and you are the most powerful [^L…excelling in power].
⁴ But you are ·uncontrolled [unstable] like water [^Coften a symbol of chaos or evil],
    so you will no longer ·lead your brothers [^Lexcel].
This is because you got into your father’s bed
    and ·shamed me by having sexual relations with my slave girl [^Lyou defiled it by going up on my couch; 35:22].