UNROLL
Dawn on the high grassland of Gilead east of the Jordan: herds of cattle and flocks of sheep spread among scattered oaks, a low stone fold with a thread of smoke, the land running away east to a pale desert horizon under a wide, calm sky.

The Book of

1 Chronicles 5

The tribes beyond the Jordan cried out to God in battle, and He answered. Then they turned to other gods, and Assyria came.

26 verses≈ 5 min2 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–9GenealogiesAll Israel, from AdamChapter 5
  2. 10Saul fallsThe kingdom turned to David
  3. 11–12David kingAll Israel gathers
  4. 13–16The arkBrought home with songs
  5. 17The covenantA house forever
  6. 18–20David's warsThe LORD gave victory
  7. 21The siteOrnan's threshing floor
  8. 22–27Preparing the templePriests, Levites and singers
  9. 28–29David's farewellBe strong, and do the work

The Descendants of Reuben

These 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.

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

Family line

Reuben’s line to the exile

    • Hanoch
    • Pallu
    • Hezron
    • Carmi

    Firstborn of Israel

    The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel:

    Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

  2. JoelShemaiahGogShimei

    The descendants of Joel:

    Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,

  3. MicahReaiahBaal

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

  4. Beerah

    Exiled by Tiglath-pileser

    and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria carried into exile.

  5. A leader of the Reubenites

    Beerah was a leader of the Reubenites.

  6. JeielZechariahBela

    Relatives by clans

    His relatives by their clans are recorded in their genealogy:

    Jeiel the chief, Zechariah,

    and Bela son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel.

Question

Quick question

Reuben was Israel’s firstborn. So who received his birthright?

Who received Reuben’s birthright as Israel’s firstborn?

The Descendants of Gad

Late afternoon on the black basalt uplands of Bashan: heavy cattle graze deep green grass among dark boulders and low stone field walls while herdsmen of Gad lean on their staffs, a ridge of old volcanic cones on the horizon.

Family line

Gad in Bashan

  1. Gad

    In Bashan, to Salecah

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

  2. JoelShaphamJaanaiShaphat

    Leaders in Bashan

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

    • Michael
    • Meshullam
    • Sheba
    • Jorai
    • Jacan
    • Zia
    • Eber

    Seven kinsmen

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

  4. AbihailHuriJaroahGileadMichaelJeshishaiJahdoBuz

    Traced back to Buz

    These 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.

  5. Ahi

    Head of their family

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

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

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

Mount Nebo (Pisgah)Mount HermonGadGileadBashanHalf of ManassehAroerBaal-meon

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

East of the Jordan

Reuben held the plateau north of the Arnon, from Aroer to Nebo and Baal-meon. Gad lived in Gilead and on into Bashan, as far as Salecah on its far eastern edge, off this map. The half-tribe of Manasseh stretched north to Mount Hermon. Open to the desert on the east, they grazed their herds out toward the Euphrates and fought the Hagrites who lived there.

The 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.

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

And 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.

1 Chronicles 5:20

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

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

Reflect

Cried out in the battle

Strong men, trained for war, still cried out to God in the battle, and “Because they put their trust in God, He answered their prayers.” Where are you leaning on your own strength? Write down the battle you are in, and what it would look like to trust God in it.

The Half-Tribe of Manasseh

Now 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).

Family line

Manasseh’s heads of families

    • Epher
    • Ishi
    • Eliel
    • Azriel
    • Jeremiah
    • Hodaviah
    • Jahdiel

    Heads of their families

    These were the heads of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel.

  2. Mighty men of valor

    They were mighty men of valor, famous men, and heads of their families.

But 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.

Evening on the flat steppe of upper Mesopotamia: a long thin line of weary exiles of Israel with bundles and donkeys, seen from far off, reaches a slow river lined with poplars and reeds, a mud-brick city on a high mound beyond.

So 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.

0:17

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Pray

In the battle and after

Thank God that He hears those who cry out to Him and answers those who trust Him. Confess the ways you lean on your own strength, and anything that has taken His place in your heart. Ask Him to keep you faithful to Him in the good, settled days as well as in the battle.

Trust or unfaithfulness

Reuben, Gad,Manasseheast of the JordanThey cried outto Godand trusted Him (5:20)He answeredthe battle belonged toGod (5:22)They wereunfaithfulthey turned to othergods (5:25)Carried toAssyriastill there to thisday (5:26)

Whiteboard

The same tribes, two ways. When they cried out to God and trusted Him, He answered. When they turned to the gods of the land, the God of Israel stirred up Assyria against them. Chronicles will say it again of Saul (10:13–14), and David will say it to Solomon: seek Him, and He will be found (28:9).

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1 Chronicles 5

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A verse to carry with you

Because they put their trust in God, He answered their prayers.

1 Chronicles 5:20

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