CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
1 Chronicles 5
Chapter 5 of 29
Chapter Overview
What happens in 1 Chronicles 5
This chapter covers the tribes that lived east of the Jordan River: Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. It explains why Reuben lost his rights as the firstborn son and records how these tribes were eventually taken into exile because they turned away from God.
Scripture
1 Chronicles 5
The Tribe of Reuben
Study note
Reuben was Jacob's firstborn son, but he lost his special rights because he sinned against his father. The birthright went to Joseph instead, and the role of leader went to Judah. Reuben's descendants lived east of the Jordan River and fought against the Hagarites during King Saul's time.
1 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.
2 Judah became the strongest tribe. A ruler came from it. But Joseph got the firstborn rights. For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:)
3 Reuben's sons were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. The sons, I say, of Reuben the firstborn of Israel were, Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
4 Joel's descendants were his son Shemaiah, then Gog, then Shimei. The sons of Joel; Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,
5 After Shimei came Micah, then Reaiah, then Baal. Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son,
6 Then came Beerah, whom King Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria took away as a prisoner. Beerah was a leader in the tribe of Reuben. Beerah his son, whom Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites.
7 His relatives were listed in the official family records by their clans. The first leader was Jeiel, then Zechariah. And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,
8 Then Bela son of Azaz, grandson of Shema, great-grandson of Joel. Bela's family lived in the area around Aroer, all the way to Nebo and Baal-Meon. And Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baal-meon:
9 To the east, his land stretched toward the edge of the desert that borders the Euphrates River. His family needed all that land because their herds had become so large in Gilead. And eastward he inhabited unto the entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates: because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead.
10 When Saul was king, they went to war against the Hagarites and won. Then they moved into the Hagarites' tents and took over all the land east of Gilead. And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagarites, who fell by their hand: and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the east land of Gilead.
The Tribe of Gad
Study note
The tribe of Gad lived next to Reuben in the land of Bashan, east of the Jordan. Their family records were kept during the reigns of King Jotham of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel.
11 The tribe of Gad lived near them in the territory of Bashan, all the way to the town of Salecah. And the children of Gad dwelt over against them, in the land of Bashan unto Salchah:
12 Joel was their main leader, with Shapham as his second in command. Jaanai and Shaphat also held leadership positions in Bashan. Joel the chief, and Shapham the next, and Jaanai, and Shaphat in Bashan.
13 Their other family leaders were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Heber — seven in all. And their brethren of the house of their fathers were, Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jachan, and Zia, and Heber, seven.
14 These men descended from Abihail, whose ancestors went back through Huri, Jaroah, Gilead, Michael, Jeshishai, Jahdo, and Buz. These are the children of Abihail the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz;
15 Ahi son of Abdiel, grandson of Guni, was the head of their extended family. Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of the house of their fathers.
16 They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and the towns around it, and on all the pasturelands of Sharon as far as their borders reached. And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan, and in her towns, and in all the suburbs of Sharon, upon their borders.
17 All these families were listed in the records. This was during the reigns of King Jotham of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel. All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.
The Eastern Tribes' Victory and Exile
Study note
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh had more than 44,000 fighting men. When they trusted in God and cried out to him during battle, he gave them victory over the Hagarites. But later these tribes turned away from God and worshipped false gods. As punishment, God allowed the king of Assyria to conquer them and take them into exile.
18 The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and eastern Manasseh had 44,760 warriors who were trained for battle. They carried shields and swords, could shoot bows, and were ready to fight. The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war.
19 They went to war against the Hagarites, along with the peoples of Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab.
20 They called out to God for help during the battle, and God answered their prayers because they trusted in him. He gave them victory over the Hagarites and all their allies. And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was entreated of them; because they put their trust in him.
21 They captured huge numbers of animals from the enemy: 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. They also took 100,000 people as prisoners. And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand.
22 Many enemies died in the fighting, because God was on Israel's side. The Israelites lived in that territory until the time they were taken away as captives. For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.
23 The eastern half-tribe of Manasseh settled in the territory from Bashan all the way to Baal-Hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. They were a very large group. And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land: they increased from Bashan unto Baal-hermon and Senir, and unto mount Hermon.
24 Here are the leaders of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were all strong soldiers, well-known men, and heads of their families. And these were the heads of the house of their fathers, even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valour, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers.
25 But they turned away from the God of their ancestors. They began to worship the false gods of the people that God had already driven out of the land. And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.
26 So the God of Israel stirred up King Pul of Assyria (also known as Tiglath-Pileser) to act against them. He forced the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and eastern Manasseh to leave their homes and took them as prisoners to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan. They have been there ever since. And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, unto this day.
Key Themes
Themes in 1 Chronicles 5
Consequences of sin and loss of birthrightVictory comes from trusting God in battleThe danger of spiritual unfaithfulnessGod disciplines those He loves
Apply This Today
Living 1 Chronicles 5
The eastern tribes won great victories when they trusted God but were eventually exiled when they turned to other gods. Success does not make us immune to spiritual failure. Stay faithful to God in both good times and difficult seasons.
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