5 The oldest son of Israel was Reuben, but since he dishonored his father by sleeping with one of his father’s wives, his birthright was given to his half brother, Joseph. So the official genealogy doesn’t name Reuben as the oldest son.

² Although Joseph received the birthright, yet Judah was a powerful and influential tribe in Israel, and from Judah came a prince.

³ The sons of Reuben, Israel’s son, were: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, Carmi.

⁴ Joel’s descendants were his son Shemaiah, his grandson Gog, and his great-grandson Shimei.

⁵ Shimei’s son was Micah; his grandson was Reaiah; and his great-grandson was Baal.

⁶ Baal’s son was Beerah. He was a prince of the tribe of Reuben and was taken into captivity by King Tilgath-pilneser of Assyria.

^7-8 His relatives became heads of clans and were included in the official genealogy: Jeiel, Zechariah, Bela (the son of Azaz, grandson of Shema, and great-grandson of Joel).

These Reubenites^[a] lived in Aroer and as far distant as Mount Nebo and Baal-meon.

⁹ Joel was a cattleman, and he pastured his animals eastward to the edge of the desert and to the Euphrates River, for there were many cattle in the land of Gilead.

¹⁰ During the reign of King Saul, the men of Reuben defeated the Hagrites in war and moved into their tents on the eastern edge of Gilead.