1 Chronicles — Chapter 5

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1These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright.

2And though Judah prevailed over his brothers and a ruler came from him, the birthright belonged to Joseph.

3The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

4The descendants of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,

5Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son,

6and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria carried into exile. Beerah was a leader of the Reubenites.

7His relatives by their clans are recorded in their genealogy: Jeiel the chief, Zechariah,

8and Bela son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel. They settled in Aroer and as far as Nebo and Baal-meon.

9They also settled in the east as far as the edge of the desert that extends to the Euphrates River, because their livestock had increased in the land of Gilead.

10During the days of Saul they waged war against the Hagrites, who were defeated at their hands, and they occupied the dwellings of the Hagrites throughout the region east of Gilead.

11The descendants of Gad lived next to the Reubenites in the land of Bashan, as far as Salecah:

12Joel was the chief, Shapham the second, then Jaanai and Shaphat, who lived in Bashan.

13Their kinsmen by families were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber—seven in all.

14These were the sons of Abihail 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.

15Ahi son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was head of their family.

16They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its towns, and throughout the pasturelands of Sharon.

17All of them were recorded in the genealogies during the reigns of Jotham king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel.

18The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 warriors—valiant men who carried the shield and sword, drew the bow, and were trained for battle.

19They waged war against the Hagrites, as well as Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab.

20And because they cried out to God in battle, they were helped against their enemies, and the Hagrites and all their allies were delivered into their hands. Because they put their trust in God, He answered their prayers.

21They seized the livestock of the Hagrites—50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. They also took 100,000 captives,

22and many others fell slain, because the battle belonged to God. And they occupied the land until the exile.

23Now the people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were numerous. They settled in the land from Bashan to Baal-hermon (that is, Senir, also known as Mount Hermon).

24These were the heads of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were mighty men of valor, famous men, and heads of their families.

25But they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers, and they prostituted themselves with the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.

26So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria) to take the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. And he brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to this day.

1Now 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.

2For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s:)

3The sons, I say, of Reuben the firstborn of Israel were, Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

4The sons of Joel; Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,

5Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son,

6Beerah his son, whom Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites.

7And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,

8And Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baal-meon:

9And eastward he inhabited unto the entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates: because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead.

10And 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.

11And the children of Gad dwelt over against them, in the land of Bashan unto Salchah:

12Joel the chief, and Shapham the next, and Jaanai, and Shaphat in Bashan.

13And their brethren of the house of their fathers were, Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jachan, and Zia, and Heber, seven.

14These 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;

15Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of the house of their fathers.

16And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan, and in her towns, and in all the suburbs of Sharon, upon their borders.

17All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

18The 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.

19And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab.

20And 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 intreated of them; because they put their trust in him.

21And 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.

22For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.

23And 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.

24And 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.

25And 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.

26And 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.

1And the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the first-born; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father`s couch, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

2For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the prince; but the birthright was Joseph`s:)

3the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

4The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,

5Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son,

6Beerah his son, whom Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites.

7And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned: the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,

8and Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baal-meon:

9and eastward he dwelt even unto the entrance of the wilderness from the river Euphrates, because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead.

10And in the days of Saul, they made war with the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the [land] east of Gilead.

11And the sons of Gad dwelt over against them, in the land of Bashan unto Salecah:

12Joel the chief, and Shapham the second, and Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan.

13And their brethren of their fathers` houses: Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jacan, and Zia, and Eber, seven.

14These were the sons 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;

15Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of their fathers` houses.

16And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan, and in its towns, and in all the suburbs of Sharon, as far as their borders.

17All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

18The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were forty and four thousand seven hundred and threescore, that were able to go forth to war.

19And they made war with the Hagrites, with Jetur, and Naphish, and Nodab.

20And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites 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.

21And 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 a hundred thousand.

22For there fell many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their stead until the captivity.

23And the children of the half-tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land: they increased from Bashan unto Baal-hermon and Senir and mount Hermon.

24And these were the heads of their fathers` houses: even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, heads of their fathers` houses.

25And they trespassed against the God of their fathers, and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God destroyed before them.

26And 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 of Gozan, unto this day.

1The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn—(Now he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph, Israel’s son. So Reuben is not listed as firstborn in the genealogical records.

2Though Judah was the strongest among his brothers and a leader descended from him, the right of the firstborn belonged to Joseph.)

3The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

4The descendants of Joel: his son Shemaiah, his son Gog, his son Shimei,

5his son Micah, his son Reaiah, his son Baal,

6and his son Beerah, whom King Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria carried into exile. Beerah was the tribal leader of Reuben.

7His brothers by their clans, as listed in their genealogical records:The leader Jeiel, Zechariah,

8and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel. They lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and Baal Meon.

9In the east they settled as far as the entrance to the wilderness that stretches to the Euphrates River, for their cattle had increased in numbers in the land of Gilead.

10During the time of Saul they attacked the Hagrites and defeated them. They took over their territory in the entire eastern region of Gilead.

11The descendants of Gad lived near them in the land of Bashan, as far as Salecah.

12They included Joel the leader, Shapham the second-in-command, Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan.

13Their relatives, listed according to their families, included Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber—seven in all.

14These were the sons of Abihail son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz.

15Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was the leader of the family.

16They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its surrounding settlements, and in the pasturelands of Sharon to their very borders.

17All of them were listed in the genealogical records in the time of King Jotham of Judah and in the time of King Jeroboam of Israel.

18The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men in their combined armies, warriors who carried shields and swords, were equipped with bows, and were trained for war.

19They attacked the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab.

20They received divine help in fighting them, and the Hagrites and all their allies were handed over to them. They cried out to God during the battle; he responded to their prayers because they trusted in him.

21They seized the Hagrites’ animals, including 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. They also took captive 100,000 people.

22Because God fought for them, they killed many of the enemy. They dispossessed the Hagrites and lived in their land until the exile.

23The half-tribe of Manasseh settled in the land from Bashan as far as Baal Hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. They grew in number.

24These were the leaders of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were skilled warriors, men of reputation, and leaders of their families.

25But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and worshiped instead the gods of the native peoples whom God had destroyed before them.

26So the God of Israel stirred up King Pul of Assyria (that is, King Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria), and he carried away the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh and took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to this very day.

1The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn; but, because he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; and the genealogy is not to be listed according to the birthright.

2For Judah prevailed above his brothers, and from him came the prince; but the birthright was Joseph’s)—

3the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

4The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,

5Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son,

6and Beerah his son, whom Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive. He was prince of the Reubenites.

7His brothers by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was listed: the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,

8and Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who lived in Aroer, even to Nebo and Baal Meon;

9and he lived eastward even to the entrance of the wilderness from the river Euphrates, because their livestock were multiplied in the land of Gilead.

10In the days of Saul, they made war with the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they lived in their tents throughout all the land east of Gilead.

11The sons of Gad lived over against them, in the land of Bashan to Salecah:

12Joel the chief, Shapham the second, Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan.

13Their brothers of their fathers’ houses: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber, seven.

14These were the sons 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;

15Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of their fathers’ houses.

16They lived in Gilead in Bashan, and in its towns, and in all the suburbs of Sharon, as far as their borders.

17All these were listed by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

18The sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skillful in war, were forty-four thousand seven hundred sixty, that were able to go out to war.

19They made war with the Hagrites, with Jetur, and Naphish, and Nodab.

20They were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them; for they cried to God in the battle, and he answered them, because they put their trust in him.

21They took away their livestock; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred fifty thousand, and of donkeys two thousand, and of men one hundred thousand.

22For many fell slain, because the war was of God. They lived in their place until the captivity.

23The children of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land: they increased from Bashan to Baal Hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon.

24These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: even Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, heads of their fathers’ houses.

25They trespassed against the God of their fathers, and played the prostitute after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God destroyed before them.

26So 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 to Halah, Habor, Hara, and to the river of Gozan, to this day.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

The tribe of Reuben's genealogy opens with a note that his birthright passed to Joseph's sons because he defiled his father's bed, though the ruling scepter belonged to Judah (vv. 1-2). Reuben's descendants are traced down to Beerah, who was carried into exile by Assyria, and the tribe's settlements in Gilead are described (vv. 3-10). Gad's genealogy and territory in Bashan follow (vv. 11-17), then the combined forces of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh — over 44,000 warriors — defeat the Hagarites in battle because they trusted God (vv. 18-22). The chapter closes with the half-tribe of Manasseh's leaders and the sobering report that all three tribes were later exiled by Assyria for turning to idolatry (vv. 23-26).

Authorship & Background

Author: Traditionally attributed to Ezra the scribe. Originally one book with 2 Chronicles. Written post-exile (approximately 450-400 BC) for the returned remnant. The Chronicler retells Israel's history from a priestly/worship perspective, emphasizing the Davidic covenant, Temple worship, and God's faithfulness.
Historical Context: Chapter 5 covers the Transjordan tribes — Reuben (vv.1-10), Gad (vv.11-17), and the half-tribe of Manasseh (vv.23-26) — along with a remarkable joint military victory (vv.18-22) and a devastating theological verdict on their exile (vv.25-26). This chapter presents a miniature theology of history: trust God and prosper (vv.18-22), forsake God and face exile (vv.25-26).
Classification: Historical Narrative — Genealogy
Key Themes: A birthright forfeited in the opening verses and explained rather than merely noted, Reuben's line ending with a name carried away captive by Assyria, a war credited explicitly to prayer rather than to the numbers the register has just finished counting, because they put their trust in him, and the three eastern tribes named first to go into exile with the reason stated as directly as the earlier victory, they transgressed against the God of their fathers
Reuben's Forfeited Birthright (vv.1-10): The register interrupts itself in its first two verses to explain a demotion. Reuben was the firstborn, but forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph, and the Chronicler adds the further complication that the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright, for Judah prevailed above his brethren. Two tribes divide what one man lost, Joseph taking the double portion and Judah the rule. Then the line, ending with Beerah whom Tilgath-pilneser carried away captive.
The Sons of Gad (vv.11-17): Gad is recorded by territory before family, they dwelt over against them in the land of Bashan unto Salcah, and the list of names is short. The section closes with a note on method that is worth having: all these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah. The Chronicler is telling the reader which census he is copying from.
The War Against the Hagarites (vv.18-22): Five verses of narrative in the middle of a list, and they read like an argument. Forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty men able to bear buckler and sword, and they made war with the Hagarites, and they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, because they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them, because they put their trust in him. The register pauses to record that the outcome was credited to prayer rather than to the numbers it has just given.
Half-Manasseh, and the Captivity (vv.23-26): The eastern half of Manasseh is placed geographically, from Bashan unto Baal-hermon, and its men described as famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers. Then the section turns on them: they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went after the gods of the people of the land. The consequence is stated with the same causal directness as the victory four verses earlier, and the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and he carried them away. The three eastern tribes are the first to go, and the register says why.

Map & Geography

  • Largely parallels 1-2 Samuel geographically. Jerusalem (Zion/City of David) is the theological and political center.
  • Key sites: Hebron (David's first capital, 7 years), the threshing floor of Ornan/Araunah (future Temple site, ch.21).
  • Chapters 1-9 (genealogies) contain tribal allotments but minimal narrative geography.

Places on this map

  • JerusalemJerusalemA hill town about 2,500 feet up in the central spine of Judah, roughly 35 miles inland from the Mediterranean and 15 miles west of the Jordan. It sits on no trade route and has no river, which is why it mattered as a fortress and a sanctuary rather than as a market. Wikipedia
  • HebronHebron, West BankThe highest town in the Judean hills at about 3,000 feet, 19 miles south of Jerusalem. Abraham bought a burial cave here, and David reigned from it for seven years before moving north, so it carries both the patriarchal and the royal claim to the land. Wikipedia

Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes the theological framework of the chapter: the same tribes that experienced supernatural victory through faith (vv.18-22) later experienced supernatural judgment through apostasy (vv.25-26). He notes that the Chronicler presents this as a warning pattern for the post-exilic community: your restoration is real, but it can be lost.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

1 Chronicles 5 Explained: 5 Minute Bible Study
2BeLikeChrist

1 Chronicles 1:1-9:34 | The Priesthood at the Center | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of 1 Chronicles -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Privilege Forfeited by Sin (vv.1-2) — Reuben was Israel's firstborn but lost his birthright through one act of unfaithfulness with his father's bed. What privileged position in your life are you presuming will always be yours, regardless of how you live?
  • Victory Won by Crying Out, Not Weapons (v.20) — Tens of thousands of trained warriors went to battle, but the text credits the win to their cry to God and their trust in Him. Are you relying on your own preparation and strength, or genuinely crying out to God when you face a fight?
  • Chasing Gods Already Proven Powerless (v.25) — These same tribes later turned to worship the gods of the very peoples God had destroyed before them. What are you tempted to chase after that has already shown itself unable to save or satisfy anyone?
  • God's Sovereign Hand in the Discipline (v.26) — Assyria's king had no knowledge of Israel's God, yet Scripture says God stirred him up to carry His people into exile. Can you trust that the hard circumstances in your life might be God's purposeful discipline rather than meaningless chaos?