1 Chronicles 5:9

9 To the east they settled in the land up to the edge of the desert. That desert reaches all the way to the Euphrates River. They settled there because their livestock had increased their numbers in Gilead.

1 Chronicles 5:9 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 5:9

And eastward he inhabited
Either Bela, or the tribe of Reuben:

unto the entering in of the wilderness;
the wilderness of Kedemoth, which was near to Sihon king of Heshbon, whose land the Reubenites inhabited, ( Deuteronomy 2:26 )

from the river Euphrates;
a learned man ^F18 thinks that this river Phrat was different from the Euphrates near Babylon, which was northward, since this was to the east or southeast:

because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead;
therefore their habitation was extended further, even to the river Euphrates, as in the days of David and Solomon, ( 2 Samuel 8:3 ) ( 1 Kings 4:21 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Texelii Phoenix, l. 3. c. 7. p. 272.

1 Chronicles 5:9 In-Context

7 Here are the relatives of the family groups of Reuben. They are listed in their family history. They include Chief Jeiel, Zechariah

8 and Bela. Bela was the son of Azaz. Azaz was the son of Shema. Shema was the son of Joel. All of them settled in the area from Aroer to Nebo and Baal Meon.

9 To the east they settled in the land up to the edge of the desert. That desert reaches all the way to the Euphrates River. They settled there because their livestock had increased their numbers in Gilead.

10 While Saul was king, the people of Reuben went to war against the Hagrites. They won the battle over them. Then they settled down in their houses. They settled through the entire area east of Gilead.

11 The people of Gad lived next to the people of Reuben in Bashan. They spread out all the way to Salecah.