1
These are the sons of Reuben, Israel's firstborn. (Although he was the firstborn, his rights as firstborn were given to his nephews, Joseph's sons, because he dishonored his father's bed. However, Joseph couldn't be listed in the genealogy as the firstborn son.
2
Even though Judah was more prominent than his brothers and the prince was to come from him, Joseph received the rights as firstborn.)
3
The sons of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
4
Joel's son was Shemaiah. Shemaiah's son was Gog. Gog's son was Shimei.
5
Shimei's son was Micah. Micah's son was Reaiah. Reaiah's son was Baal.
6
Baal's son was Beerah. King Tiglath Pilneser of Assyria took him away as a captive. He was leader of the tribe of Reuben.
7
Beerah's brothers according to their families, when they were enrolled in the genealogical records according to their ancestry, were as follows: The first was Jeiel, then Zechariah
8
and Bela (son of Azaz, grandson of Shema, and great-grandson of Joel). Reuben's descendants lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and Baal Meon.
9
Some of them lived eastward as far as the edge of the desert that extends to the Euphrates River, because they had so much livestock in Gilead.
10
In Saul's day they fought a war against the Hagrites, defeated them, and lived in their tents throughout the entire region east of Gilead.