1 Chronicles 5:2-12

2 The descendants of Judah became the most powerful tribe and provided a ruler for the nation, but the birthright belonged to Joseph.

3 The sons of Reuben, the oldest son 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 was the leader of the Reubenites when they were taken into captivity by King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria.

7 Beerah’s relatives are listed in their genealogical records by their clans: Jeiel (the leader), Zechariah,

8 and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel. The Reubenites lived in the area that stretches from Aroer to Nebo and Baal-meon.

9 And since they had so many livestock in the land of Gilead, they spread east toward the edge of the desert that stretches to the Euphrates River.

10 During the reign of Saul, the Reubenites defeated the Hagrites in battle. Then they moved into the Hagrite settlements all along the eastern edge of Gilead.

11 Next to the Reubenites, the descendants of Gad lived in the land of Bashan as far east as Salecah.

12 Joel was the leader in the land of Bashan, and Shapham was second-in-command, followed by Janai and Shaphat.

1 Chronicles 5:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 5

This chapter relates the genealogy of the tribes that lived on the other side Jordan; of the Reubenites, 1Ch 5:1-10, of the Gadites, 1Ch 5:11-17 of the half tribe of Manasseh, 1Ch 5:23,24 and of their war with the Hagarites, in conjunction with each other, and their conquest of them, 1Ch 5:18-22 and who for their sins were all carried captive by the king of Assyria, 1Ch 5:25,26.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or and from Judah came a prince.
• [b]. Hebrew Tilgath-pilneser, a variant spelling of Tiglath-pileser; also in 5:26 .
• [c]. Hebrew His.