1 Chronicles 5

The Tribe of Reuben, Israel’s Firstborn

1 Reuben was Israel’s (aka Jacob’s) oldest son. But he messed up, he slept with his father’s side chick. Because of that, his rights as firstborn were taken away and passed to the sons of Joseph (son of Israel). But even though Joseph got the blessing, the official records still list Reuben as the firstborn.

2 Judah became the strongest tribe, and a ruler came from his line. But the birthright still went to Joseph’s people.

3 Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, had these sons: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, And Clarmi.

Reuben’s Family and Territory

4 Joel was Reuben’s descendant. Joel had Shemaiah. Shemaiah had Gog. Gog had Shimei.

5 Shimei had Micah. Micah had Reaiah. Reaiah had Baal.

6 Baal had Beerah, who was a leader of the Reubenites. But Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, snatched him up and took him into exile.

7 The families of his brothers were listed by clans in their family records, all during King Jotham’s time in Judah and King Jeroboam’s time in Israel.

8 These Reubenites lived all the way from Aroer to Nebo and Baal-meon.

9 They lived eastward too, as far as the desert near the Euphrates River. They had large herds and needed space for all their livestock in Gilead.

The War Heroes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh

10 During Saul’s reign, they went to war with the Hagrites and defeated them. They took over their land and settled there.

11 The tribe of Gad lived next to them in the land of Bashan, all the way to Salecah.

12 These were the main leaders from Gad: Joel (top dog), Shapham (next), Janai And Shaphat (lived in Bashan).

13 Their relatives were: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, And Eber, all sons of Abihail.

14 They were descendants of: Abihail → Huri → Jaroah → Gilead → Michael → Jeshishai → Jahdo → Buz.

15 Ahi, son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was their clan leader.

16 They lived in Gilead, in Bashan, and around all the towns nearby, spreading across all the open pasturelands of Sharon.

17 All these families were officially recorded during the reigns of Jotham (king of Judah) and Jeroboam (king of Israel).

Warriors Who Trusted in God

18 The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men ready for war, trained, armed with shields, swords, bows, and skilled in battle.

19 They went to war against the Hagrites and their allies: Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab.

20 They cried out to God in the middle of the fight, and God came through. He answered their prayer because they trusted in Him. They took out the Hagrites and their entire crew.

21 They captured 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 people as prisoners.

22 That battle was heavy. A lot of folks got wiped out, because God Himself fought for them. After that, they lived there and took over the land.

The Fall of the Half-tribe of Manasseh

23 The half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land from Bashan to Baal-hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. They were many in number.

24 These were the heads of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, And Jahdiel. They were strong warriors, well-respected, and leaders of their tribes.

25 But later on, they turned their backs on the God of their ancestors. They started cheating with the gods of the people God had destroyed before them.

26 So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul (king of Assyria), also known as Tiglath-pileser. He came through and took them into exile, dragging away the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They were taken to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they stayed in exile to this day.