Reuben’s Descendants

5 The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn—

(Now he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s bed,^[a] his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph, Israel’s son. So Reuben is not listed as firstborn in the genealogical records.^{[b] 2} Though Judah was the strongest among his brothers and a leader descended from him,^[c] the right of the firstborn belonged to Joseph.)

³ The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

⁴ The descendants of Joel: his son Shemaiah, his son Gog, his son Shimei, ⁵ his son Micah, his son Reaiah, his son Baal, ⁶ and his son Beerah, whom King Tiglath-Pileser^[d] of Assyria carried into exile. Beerah^[e] was the tribal leader of Reuben.

⁷ His brothers by their clans, as listed in their genealogical records:

The leader Jeiel, Zechariah, ⁸ and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel.

They lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and Baal Meon. ⁹ In the east they settled as far as the entrance to the wilderness that stretches to the Euphrates River, for their cattle had increased in numbers in the land of Gilead. ¹⁰ During the time of Saul they attacked the Hagrites and defeated them. They took over their territory in the entire eastern region of Gilead.^[f]

Gad’s Descendants

¹¹ The descendants of Gad lived near them in the land of Bashan, as far as Salecah.

¹² They included Joel the leader, Shapham the second in command, Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan. ¹³ Their relatives, listed according to their families,^[g] included Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber—seven in all.

¹⁴ These were the sons of Abihail son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz. ¹⁵ Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was the leader of the family.^{[h] 16} They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its surrounding settlements, and in the pasturelands of Sharon to their very borders.^{[i] 17} All of them were listed in the genealogical records in the time of King Jotham of Judah and in the time of King Jeroboam of Israel.

¹⁸ The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men in their combined armies, warriors who carried shields and swords, were equipped with bows, and were trained for war.^{[j] 19} They attacked^[k] the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. ²⁰ They received divine help in fighting them, and the Hagrites and all their allies were handed over to them. They cried out to God during the battle; he responded to their prayers because they trusted in him.^{[l] 21} They seized the Hagrites’^[m] animals, including 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. They also took captive 100,000 people. ²² Because God fought for them,^[n] they killed many of the enemy.^[o] They dispossessed the Hagrites and lived in their land until the exile.^[p]

The Half-Tribe of Manasseh

²³ The half-tribe of Manasseh settled in the land from Bashan as far as Baal Hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. They grew in number.

²⁴ These were the leaders of their families:^[q]

Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were skilled warriors, men of reputation,^[r] and leaders of their families. ²⁵ But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors^[s] and worshiped instead^[t] the gods of the native peoples^[u] whom God had destroyed before them. ²⁶ So the God of Israel stirred up^[v] King Pul of Assyria (that is, King Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria),^[w] and he carried away the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh and took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to this very day.