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Descendants of Reuben

The oldest son of Israel[a] was Reuben. But since he dishonored his father by sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, his birthright was given to the sons of his brother Joseph. For this reason, Reuben is not listed in the genealogical records as the firstborn son. The descendants of Judah became the most powerful tribe and provided a ruler for the nation,[b] but the birthright belonged to Joseph.

The sons of Reuben, the oldest son of Israel, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

The descendants of Joel were Shemaiah, Gog, Shimei, Micah, Reaiah, Baal, and Beerah. Beerah was the leader of the Reubenites when they were taken into captivity by King Tiglath-pileser[c] of Assyria.

Beerah’s[d] relatives are listed in their genealogical records by their clans: Jeiel (the leader), Zechariah, and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel.

The Reubenites lived in the area that stretches from Aroer to Nebo and Baal-meon. And since they had so many livestock in the land of Gilead, they spread east toward the edge of the desert that stretches to the Euphrates River.

10 During the reign of Saul, the Reubenites defeated the Hagrites in battle. Then they moved into the Hagrite settlements all along the eastern edge of Gilead.

Descendants of Gad

11 Next to the Reubenites, the descendants of Gad lived in the land of Bashan as far east as Salecah. 12 Joel was the leader in the land of Bashan, and Shapham was second-in-command, followed by Janai and Shaphat.

13 Their relatives, the leaders of seven other clans, were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber. 14 These were all descendants 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 their clans.

16 The Gadites lived in the land of Gilead, in Bashan and its villages, and throughout all the pasturelands of Sharon. 17 All of these were listed in the genealogical records during the days of King Jotham of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel.

The Tribes East of the Jordan

18 There were 44,760 capable warriors in the armies of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They were all skilled in combat and armed with shields, swords, and bows. 19 They waged war against the Hagrites, the Jeturites, the Naphishites, and the Nodabites. 20 They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him. So the Hagrites and all their allies were defeated. 21 The plunder taken from the Hagrites included 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep and goats, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 captives. 22 Many of the Hagrites were killed in the battle because God was fighting against them. The people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh lived in their land until they were taken into exile.

23 The half-tribe of Manasseh was very large and spread through the land from Bashan to Baal-hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. 24 These were the leaders of their clans: Epher,[e] Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. These men had a great reputation as mighty warriors and leaders of their clans.

25 But these tribes were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors. They worshiped the gods of the nations that God had destroyed. 26 So the God of Israel caused King Pul of Assyria (also known as Tiglath-pileser) to invade the land and take away the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh as captives. The Assyrians exiled them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the Gozan River, where they remain to this day.

Footnotes

  1. 5:1 Israel is the name that God gave to Jacob.
  2. 5:2 Or and from Judah came a prince.
  3. 5:6 Hebrew Tilgath-pilneser, a variant spelling of Tiglath-pileser; also in 5:26.
  4. 5:7 Hebrew His.
  5. 5:24 As in Greek version and Latin Vulgate; Hebrew reads and Epher.

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