Reuben’s Children

5 Reuben was Israel’s [^CJacob’s] ·first son [firstborn]. Reuben ·should have received the special privileges of the oldest son [was the firstborn], but he ·had sexual relations with his father’s slave woman [^Ldefiled his father’s bed; Gen. 35:22]. So ·those special privileges [that birthright] were given to Joseph’s sons. (Joseph was a son of Israel [^CJacob].) In the ·family history Reuben’s name [genealogical record he] is not listed as ·the first son [having the right of the firstborn]. ² Judah became ·stronger than [predominant/prominent over] his brothers, and a leader came from his family [^Clikely referring to David]. But ·Joseph’s family received the privileges that belonged to the oldest son [the birthright belonged to Joseph]. ³ Reuben was Israel’s ·first son [firstborn]. Reuben’s sons were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

⁴ These were the children of Joel: Shemaiah was Joel’s son. Gog was Shemaiah’s son. Shimei was Gog’s son. ⁵ Micah was Shimei’s son. Reaiah was Micah’s son. Baal was Reaiah’s son. ⁶ Beerah was Baal’s son. Beerah was a leader of the tribe of Reuben. Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria captured him and took him ·away [^Linto exile/captivity].

⁷ Joel’s ·brothers [relatives; kinsmen] and all his ·family groups [clans] are listed ·just as they are written in their family histories [according to their genealogical records]: Jeiel was the ·first [leader; chief], then Zechariah, ⁸ and Bela. (Bela was the son of Azaz. Azaz was the son of Shema, and Shema was the son of Joel.) They lived in the area ·of [that stretches from] Aroer all the way to Nebo and Baal Meon. ⁹ Bela’s people lived to the east—as far as the edge of the ·desert [wilderness], ·which is beside [that stretches to] the Euphrates River—because they had ·too [so] many cattle ·for [in] the land of Gilead.

¹⁰ When Saul was king, Bela’s people fought a war against the Hagrite people ·and defeated them [^Lwho fell by their hand]. Then Bela’s people lived in the ·tents [settlements] that had belonged to the Hagrites in all the area east of Gilead.