The Family of Reuben(A)

Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—(B)he was indeed the firstborn, but because he (C)defiled his father’s bed, (D)his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright; yet (E)Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a (F)ruler, although [a]the birthright was Joseph’s— the sons of (G)Reuben the firstborn of Israel were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

The sons of Joel were Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, and Beerah his son, whom [b]Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria (H)carried into captivity. He was leader of the Reubenites. And his brethren by their families, (I)when the genealogy of their generations was registered: the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah, and Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in (J)Aroer, as far as Nebo and Baal Meon. Eastward they settled as far as the [c]entrance of the wilderness this side of the River Euphrates, because their cattle had [d]multiplied (K)in the land of Gilead.

10 Now in the days of Saul they made war (L)with the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they dwelt in their tents throughout the entire area east of Gilead.

The Family of Gad

11 And the (M)children of Gad dwelt next to them in the land of (N)Bashan as far as (O)Salcah: 12 Joel was the chief, Shapham the next, then Jaanai and Shaphat in Bashan, 13 and their brethren of their father’s house: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jachan, Zia, and Eber—seven in all. 14 These were the children of Abihail the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz; 15 Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was chief of their father’s house. 16 And the Gadites dwelt in Gilead, in Bashan and in its villages, and in all the [e]common-lands of (P)Sharon within their borders. 17 All these were registered by genealogies in the days of (Q)Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of (R)Jeroboam king of Israel.

18 The sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh had forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty valiant men, men able to bear shield and sword, to shoot with the bow, and skillful in war, who went to war. 19 They made war with the Hagrites, (S)Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 20 And (T)they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they (U)cried out to God in the battle. He [f]heeded their prayer, because they (V)put their trust in Him. 21 Then they took away their livestock—fifty thousand of their camels, two hundred and fifty thousand of their sheep, and two thousand of their donkeys—also one hundred thousand of their men; 22 for many fell dead, because the war (W)was God’s. And they dwelt in their place until (X)the captivity.

The Family of Manasseh (East)

23 So the children of the half-tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land. Their numbers increased from Bashan to Baal Hermon, that is, to (Y)Senir, or Mount Hermon. 24 These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were mighty men of valor, famous men, and heads of their fathers’ houses.

25 And they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers, and (Z)played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. 26 So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of (AA)Pul king of Assyria, that is, (AB)Tiglath-Pileser[g] king of Assyria. He carried the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into captivity. He took them to (AC)Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan to this day.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 5:2 the right of the firstborn
  2. 1 Chronicles 5:6 Heb. Tilgath-Pilneser
  3. 1 Chronicles 5:9 beginning
  4. 1 Chronicles 5:9 increased
  5. 1 Chronicles 5:16 open lands
  6. 1 Chronicles 5:20 Lit. was entreated for them
  7. 1 Chronicles 5:26 Heb. Tilgath-Pilneser

Chapter 5

Reuben. The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel. For this reason he could not be listed in the genealogy according to his birthright. Though Judah was the strongest of the brothers and a ruler came through him, the birthright belonged to Joseph.)

[a]The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

The descendants of Joel were Shemaiah, his son, Gog, his son, Shimei, his son, Micah, his son, Reaiah, his son, Baal, his son, and Beerah, his son, whom Tiglath-pileser, the king of Assyria, carried off into exile. He was the leader of the Reubenites.

These were their brethren by their clans, listed according to the generations of their genealogy. Jeiel, their leader, Zechariah, and Bela, the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel. They dwelt in the area that ran from Aroer to Nebo and Baal-meon. To the east, they lived on the edge of the desert that runs up to the Euphrates River because their herds had grown numerous in the land of Gilead. 10 During the days of Saul they fought against the Hagrites who fell at their hands. They lived in their dwellings to the east of Gilead.

11 Gad. The Gadites lived alongside of them in the land of Bashan up to Salecah. 12 Joel was their leader, Shapham the next, then Janai, Shaphat, and Bashan. 13 Their brethren, by their ancestral clans, were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber. There were seven of them in all.

14 These were the sons of Abihail, the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz.

15 Ahi, the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was the leader of the clan.

16 The Gadites lived in Gilead, in Bashan, all of their villages, and all throughout the pastures of Sharon. 17 All of these were entered in the genealogies during the reigns of Jotham, the king of Judah, and Jeroboam, the king of Israel.

18 The Reubenites, the Gadites, and one-half of the tribe of Manasseh had forty-four thousand, seven hundred and sixty trained warriors armed with shield, sword, and bow who went out to battle. 19 They fought against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 20 They helped in fighting against them, and the Lord delivered the Hagrites and those who were with them into their hands for they had cried out to God all throughout the battle. He responded to them because they had put their trust in him. 21 They seized their livestock: fifty thousand camels, two hundred thousand sheep, and two thousand donkeys. They also took one hundred thousand captives. 22 Many others were killed, falling because it was God’s battle. They then dwelt there in their place until the time of the Exile.

23 The Half-tribe of Manasseh. The one-half of the tribe of Manasseh who dwelt in the land of Bashan up to Baal-hermon, that is Senir, or Mount Hermon, grew numerous.

24 These were the leaders of their ancestral clans: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were brave warriors, famous, and the leaders of their ancestral clans, 25 but they betrayed the God of their fathers, prostituting themselves with the gods of the various peoples of the land whom God had destroyed before them. 26 Therefore the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul, the king of Assyria (that is, the spirit of Tiglath-pileser, the king of Assyria). He led away the Reubenites, the Gadites, and one-half of the tribe of Manasseh and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and to the Gozan River where they are up to the present.

27 Levi.[b]The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

28 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

29 The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam.

The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

30 Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, and Phinehas was the father of Abishua.

31 Abishua was the father of Bukki, and Bukki was the father of Uzzi.

32 Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah, and Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth.

33 Meraioth was the father of Amariah, and Amariah was the father of Ahitub.

34 Ahitub was the father of Zadok, and Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz.

35 Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah, and Azariah was the father of Johanan.

36 Johanan was the father of Azariah. He served as priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem.

37 Azariah was the father of Amariah, and Amariah was the father of Ahitub.

38 Ahitub was the father of Zadok, and Zadok was the father of Shallum.

39 Shallum was the father of Hilkiah, and Hilkiah was the father of Azariah.

40 Azariah was the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak.

41 Jehozadak was carried off when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 5:3 The relations between the clan of Joel and the tribe of Reuben are not clarified.
  2. 1 Chronicles 5:27 The tribe of Levi comes at the center of these genealogical sketches. The Chronicler assigns great importance to the temple and its worship. In this post-Exilic period it is, in fact, the priestly class that keeps the people united and leads them. The information given here has to do with various aspects of the life and functions of the Levites. As the only tribe not to possess a territory, Levi very quickly lost any political role and was put in charge solely of the sanctuaries and, later, of the one temple in Jerusalem (see Num 3–4; 2 Ki 23).

Descendants of Reuben

The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel ((A)for he was the firstborn, but because (B)he defiled his father's couch, (C)his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he could not be enrolled as the oldest son; (D)though Judah became strong among his brothers and a (E)chief came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph), the (F)sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, Beerah his son, whom (G)Tiglath-pileser[a] king of Assyria carried away into exile; he was a chief of the Reubenites. And his kinsmen by their clans, (H)when the genealogy of their generations was recorded: the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah, and Bela the son of Azaz, son of (I)Shema, son of Joel, who lived in (J)Aroer, as far as (K)Nebo and (L)Baal-meon. He also lived to the east as far as the entrance of the desert this side of the Euphrates, because their livestock had multiplied (M)in the land of Gilead. 10 And in the days of Saul they waged war against the (N)Hagrites, who fell into their hand. And they lived in their tents throughout all the region east of Gilead.

Descendants of Gad

11 The sons of Gad lived over against them in the land of Bashan as far as (O)Salecah: 12 Joel the chief, Shapham the second, Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan. 13 And their kinsmen according to their fathers' houses: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia and Eber, seven. 14 These were the sons of Abihail the son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz. 15 Ahi the son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was chief in their fathers' houses, 16 and they lived in Gilead, in Bashan and in its towns, and in all the pasturelands of (P)Sharon to their limits. 17 All of these were recorded in genealogies in the days of (Q)Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of (R)Jeroboam king of Israel.

18 The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had valiant men who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, (S)expert in war, 44,760, able to go to war. 19 They waged war against the (T)Hagrites, (U)Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 20 And when they prevailed[b] over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, (V)for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea (W)because they trusted in him. 21 They carried off their livestock: 50,000 of their camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men alive. 22 For many fell, because the war was of God. And they lived (X)in their place until (Y)the exile.

The Half-Tribe of Manasseh

23 The members of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land. They were very numerous from Bashan to Baal-hermon, (Z)Senir, and Mount Hermon. 24 These were the heads of their fathers' houses: Epher,[c] Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty warriors, famous men, heads of their fathers' houses. 25 But they broke faith with the God of their fathers, and (AA)whored (AB)after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. 26 So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of (AC)Pul king of Assyria, the spirit of (AD)Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and he took them into exile, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them (AE)to Halah, (AF)Habor, Hara, and (AG)the river Gozan, to this day.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 5:6 Hebrew Tilgath-pilneser; also verse 26
  2. 1 Chronicles 5:20 Or they were helped to prevail
  3. 1 Chronicles 5:24 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew and Epher

Reuben

The sons of Reuben(A) the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed,(B) his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph(C) son of Israel;(D) so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright,(E) and though Judah(F) was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler(G) came from him, the rights of the firstborn(H) belonged to Joseph)— the sons of Reuben(I) the firstborn of Israel:

Hanok, Pallu,(J) Hezron(K) and Karmi.

The descendants of Joel:

Shemaiah his son, Gog his son,

Shimei his son, Micah his son,

Reaiah his son, Baal his son,

and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-Pileser[a](L) king of Assyria took into exile. Beerah was a leader of the Reubenites.

Their relatives by clans,(M) listed according to their genealogical records:

Jeiel the chief, Zechariah, and Bela son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel. They settled in the area from Aroer(N) to Nebo(O) and Baal Meon.(P) To the east they occupied the land up to the edge of the desert that extends to the Euphrates(Q) River, because their livestock had increased in Gilead.(R)

10 During Saul’s reign they waged war against the Hagrites(S), who were defeated at their hands; they occupied the dwellings of the Hagrites throughout the entire region east of Gilead.

Gad

11 The Gadites(T) lived next to them in Bashan, as far as Salekah:(U)

12 Joel was the chief, Shapham the second, then Janai and Shaphat, in Bashan.

13 Their relatives, by families, were:

Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jakan, Zia and Eber—seven in all.

14 These were the sons of Abihail son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz.

15 Ahi son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was head of their family.

16 The Gadites lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its outlying villages, and on all the pasturelands of Sharon as far as they extended.

17 All these were entered in the genealogical records during the reigns of Jotham(V) king of Judah and Jeroboam(W) king of Israel.

18 The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men ready for military service(X)—able-bodied men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a bow, and who were trained for battle. 19 They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur,(Y) Naphish and Nodab. 20 They were helped(Z) in fighting them, and God delivered the Hagrites and all their allies into their hands, because they cried(AA) out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted(AB) in him. 21 They seized the livestock of the Hagrites—fifty thousand camels, two hundred fifty thousand sheep and two thousand donkeys. They also took one hundred thousand people captive, 22 and many others fell slain, because the battle(AC) was God’s. And they occupied the land until the exile.(AD)

The Half-Tribe of Manasseh

23 The people of the half-tribe of Manasseh(AE) were numerous; they settled in the land from Bashan to Baal Hermon, that is, to Senir (Mount Hermon).(AF)

24 These were the heads of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel. They were brave warriors, famous men, and heads of their families. 25 But they were unfaithful(AG) to the God of their ancestors and prostituted(AH) themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. 26 So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit(AI) of Pul(AJ) king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-Pileser(AK) king of Assyria), who took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to Halah,(AL) Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan, where they are to this day.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 5:6 Hebrew Tilgath-Pilneser, a variant of Tiglath-Pileser; also in verse 26