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]