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Reuben’s Descendants

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] Though Judah was the strongest among his brothers and a leader descended from him,[c] the right of the firstborn belonged to Joseph.)

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

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

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

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

They lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and Baal Meon. 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.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 5:1 sn The phrase when he defiled his father’s bed refers to Reuben having sexual relations with his father Jacob’s concubine Bilhah. This incident is recorded in Gen 35:22.
  2. 1 Chronicles 5:1 tn Heb “and not to be listed in the genealogical records as (having) the right of the firstborn.”
  3. 1 Chronicles 5:2 tn Heb “and [one] for a leader [was] from him.” This probably refers to the Davidic king.
  4. 1 Chronicles 5:6 tn Heb “Tilgath-Pilneser,” a variant spelling of Tiglath-Pileser (also in v. 26).
  5. 1 Chronicles 5:6 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Beerah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  6. 1 Chronicles 5:10 tn Heb “and in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagrites and they fell by their hand and they lived in their tents unto all the face of the east of Gilead.”
  7. 1 Chronicles 5:13 tn Heb “and their brothers by the house of their fathers.”
  8. 1 Chronicles 5:15 tn Heb “was the head of the house of their fathers.”
  9. 1 Chronicles 5:16 tn Heb “unto their extremities.”
  10. 1 Chronicles 5:18 tn Heb “the sons of Reuben and the Gadites and half of the tribe of Manasseh, from the sons of bravery, men carrying a shield and sword and treading a bow and trained for war, 44,760 going out for warfare.”
  11. 1 Chronicles 5:19 tn Heb “made war with.”
  12. 1 Chronicles 5:20 tn Heb “and they were helped against them and they were given over into their hand, the Hagrites and all who were with them, for to God they cried out in the battle and he was entreated [or “allowed himself to be entreated”] by them for they trusted in him.”
  13. 1 Chronicles 5:21 tn Heb “their”; the referent (the Hagrites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  14. 1 Chronicles 5:22 tn Heb “from God [was] the battle.”
  15. 1 Chronicles 5:22 tn Heb “many slain fell.”
  16. 1 Chronicles 5:22 tn Heb “and they lived in place of them until the exile.” The referent of “them” (the Hagrites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  17. 1 Chronicles 5:24 tn Heb “and these [were] the heads of the house of their fathers.”
  18. 1 Chronicles 5:24 tn Heb “men of names.”
  19. 1 Chronicles 5:25 tn Heb “fathers.”
  20. 1 Chronicles 5:25 tn Heb “prostituted themselves after.”
  21. 1 Chronicles 5:25 tn Heb “the peoples of the land.”
  22. 1 Chronicles 5:26 tn Heb “stirred up the spirit of.”
  23. 1 Chronicles 5:26 tn Heb “and the spirit of Tilgath-Pilneser king of Assyria.” “Pul” and “Tilgath-Pilneser” were names of the same Assyrian ruler, more commonly known as Tiglath-Pileser (cf. 2 Kgs 15:29).

Genealogy of Reuben(A)

Here is a record of[a] the descendants of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn. (He was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his birthright was transferred to the descendants of Israel’s son Joseph. As a result, Reuben is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. Even though Judah became prominent among his relatives—that is, the Commander-in-chief[b] will be his descendant—nevertheless the right of the firstborn went to Joseph.)

The descendants of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, included Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

Joel’s descendants were his son Shemaiah, his son Gog, his son Shimei, his son Micah, his son Reaiah, his son Baal, and his son Beerah, whom King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria carried away into exile, and who was a governor of the descendants of Reuben.

His relatives, listed by families when the genealogy was enrolled according to their generations, included[c] the chief, Jeiel, Zechariah, and Azaz’s son Bela, grandson of Shema, and great-grandson of Joel, who lived in Aroer, near Nebo and Baal-meon. He also lived eastward as far as the entrance to the wilderness this side of the Euphrates River,[d] because their cattle had increased in the territory of Gilead. 10 During the reign[e] of Saul they declared war on the Hagrites, who fell in battle by their hand. They lived in their tents throughout all of east Gilead.

Genealogy of Gad

11 Gad’s descendants lived beside them in the land of Bashan as far as Salecah: 12 They included[f] Joel their chief, Shapham their second in command,[g] Janai, and Shaphat, who lived[h] in Bashan. 13 Their seven relatives, according to the households of their clans, included Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber. 14 These were the descendants of Huri’s son Abihail, who was fathered by Jaroah, who was fathered by Gilead, who was fathered by Michael, who was fathered by Jeshishai, who was fathered by Jahdo, and who was fathered by Buz: 15 Abdiel’s son Ahi, who was the grandson of Guni, was chief in their clan. 16 They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its villages, and in all the surrounding suburbs[i] of Sharon as far as their borders. 17 All of them were enrolled by genealogies during the reign[j] of King Jotham of Judah and during the reign[k] of King Jeroboam of Israel.

18 The descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh produced 44,700 valiant soldiers expert in shield, sword, and bow. Trained in warfare, they were equipped to serve at a moment’s notice. 19 They fought in battle against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 20 When they received assistance against them, the Hagrites and all of their allies were handed over to their control, because they cried out to God during the battle. He honored their entreaty, because they had placed their trust in him. 21 They captured 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 war captives from their possessions. 22 Many fell slain, because the battle’s outcome was directed by God. They lived in their territory[l] until the exile.

Genealogy of Manasseh

23 The half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land, spread out from Bashan to Baal-hermon, including[m] Senir and Mount Hermon. 24 These were the leaders of their clans: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel—they were mighty warriors, well known men, and leaders of their clans. 25 But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors by prostituting themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had exterminated right in front of them. 26 So the God of Israel incited[n] King Pul of Assyria (also known as[o] King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria), who took them prisoner and brought the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh to Halah, Habor, Hara, and to the Gozan River, where they remain[p] to this day.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 5:1 The Heb. lacks Here is a record of
  2. 1 Chronicles 5:2 Or Prince; i.e. a title of Messiah; lit. Nagid; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority
  3. 1 Chronicles 5:7 The Heb. lacks included
  4. 1 Chronicles 5:9 The Heb. lacks River
  5. 1 Chronicles 5:10 Lit. days
  6. 1 Chronicles 5:12 The Heb. lacks They included
  7. 1 Chronicles 5:12 The Heb. lacks in command
  8. 1 Chronicles 5:12 The Heb. lacks who lived
  9. 1 Chronicles 5:16 Or all its pasture lands
  10. 1 Chronicles 5:17 Lit. days
  11. 1 Chronicles 5:17 Lit. days
  12. 1 Chronicles 5:22 Lit. lived in place of them
  13. 1 Chronicles 5:23 The Heb. lacks including
  14. 1 Chronicles 5:26 Lit. incited the spirit of
  15. 1 Chronicles 5:26 Lit. Assyria and the spirit of
  16. 1 Chronicles 5:26 The Heb. lacks where they remain

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