1 Chronicles 5:9

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.

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 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.