1 Chronicles 5:1-10

The Voice

5 ^1-2 Because Reuben slept with his father’s concubine, he forfeited his rights as the firstborn of Israel, his monetary inheritance and his political position as the leader of the nation of Israel. Although Reuben’s inheritance and birthright were given to Joseph, Judah’s descendants became the rulers of Israel.

³ Reuben’s sons (the firstborn of Israel) were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. ⁴ The descendants of Joel were Shemaiah, Gog, Shimei, ⁵ Micah, Reaiah, Baal, ⁶ and Beerah. Beerah (who led the Reubenites) was exiled by Tilgath-pilneser, the king of Assyria who destroyed Israel and exiled the inhabitants. ⁷ His kinsmen led their families in the order of their generations: Jeiel was the first chief, then Zechariah, ⁸ Bela of Aroer (son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel), Nebo, and finally Baal-meon.

⁹ The Reubenite territory stretched to the Euphrates River Valley because their cattle had increased in the land of Gilead. ¹⁰ During Saul’s reign they slaughtered the Hagrites and seized their territory east of Gilead.