1 Chronicles 5

The sons and posterity of Reuben, to the Babylinish captivity, v.1.&c. Their war against the Hagarens, 10. The habitations, and the chiefest men of the tribe of Gad, 11. The number of the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, that marched forth to battle, 18. Their was against the Hagarens. 19. Their victory over the same, 20. The dwelling places of the half tribe of Manasseh, 23. Their chiefest men, 24. Those three tribes are carried captive unto Assyria because of their sins, 25.

1. Now the children of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the first-born, but forasmuch as he defiled his fathers bed [Lying with Bilha his fathers concubine, Gen.35.22. See also Gen.49.3.] his birth-right was given to the children of Joseph the son of Israel: [that is, the right which the first-born had above his brethren, enjoying a double portion or part in the inheritance, Deut.21.17. this was given to Joseph and his sons; for in the division of the land of Canaan, Ephraim and Manasseh were placed among the rest of the tribes, to have their share with them. See of Joseph Gen.48.22. and of his sons, Gen.48.5.] yet not (so), that he might reckon himself in the genelogy according to the birth-right.

2. For Juda waxed mighty among his brethren, [Of Juda’s dominion and excellency, see Gen.49.v.8.etc.] and he that was a leader, was of him; [Oth. Be became a leader for, or, over him; to wit, over Joseph: or; as concerning the Leader he was more then he; to wit, then Joseph. First the Kings, then Princes or Rulers of the land, were of the tribe of Juda, of the house and family of David, until the time of Herod, when Silo came, Gen.49.10.] but the birth-right was Josephs.) [to wit, as much as concerned the double portion of the goods or estate as was said v.1. See Gen.48.5. and 49.22. etc.]

3. The children of Reuben the first-born of Israel are Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Charmi.

4. The children of Joel, Semaaja his son, Gog his son, Simei his son.

5. Micha his son, Reaja his son, Baal his son.

6. Beera his son, whom Tilgath Pilneser [He is also called Tilgath-Pileser, 2 Kings 15:29. and 16.7.] the king of Assyria carried away captive, he was Prince of the Reubenites [he, to wit, Joel, who seemeth to have been the son of Hanoch, the first-born of Reuben, and therefore Prince of the Reubenites.]

7. As for his brethren, [To wit, Hanochs brethren, who are expressed v.3.] in their families, when they were according to their generations put in the genealogys: [see below v.17.] the heads (or chief) were Jeiel and Zacharja.

8. And Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Sema, the son of Joel, the same [Understand this Bela, or of his Family, or in general of Reubens inheritance is also described] dwelt at Aroer, and unto Nebo, and Baal Meon.

9. And he dwelt East-ward, unto the entering in of the wilderness, from the River Phrath: [i.e. from the River Euphrates unto the Jordan] for their cattle [to wit, the cattle of the brethren of Joel, of whom is spoken v.7.] were multiplied in the land of Gilead.

10. And in the days of Saul they waged [Heb. made, or, did] war against the Hagarens [these were Ismaelites, and are called Hagarens because they came of Hagar, Abrahams maid-servant, Ismaels mother: They dwelt in Arabia the desert] those [to wit, the Hagarens] fell by their hand: and they [to wit, the Israelites] dwelt in their tents toward all the East-side of Gilead.

11. Now the children of Gad dwelt over against them, in the land of Basan unto Salcha.

12. Joel was the head (or chief) and Saphan the second: But Jaenai and Saphat (tarried) in Basan. [To wit, to defend their own borders, while their brethren waged war.]

13. Now their brethren, according to the houses of their fathers, were Michal, and Messullam, and Seba, and Jorai, and Jachan, and Zia, and Heber, seven.

14. These [To wit, those, of whom even now was spoken, v.13.] are the children of ABihail, the son of Huri, the son of Harvah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jesisai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz.

15. Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Gani was the head (or chief) of the house of their Fathers.

16. And they dwelt in Gilead, in Basan, and in their dependant places: [That is, in the small cities, towns, and villages, resorting under the great cities. Hebr. daughters] and in suburbs of Saaron, [where there was good pasture. This Saron lay in Gilead. See of another Saron in Ephraim, Cant.2.1.] until their goings out.

17. All these are numbered according to their genealogies the days of Jotham king of Juda: [When he as Deputy of his Father governed the Kingdom, while his Father was smitten with leprosy, 2 Kings 15:5.] and in the days of Jerobeam the king of Israel. [understand here Jerobeam the second of the name, the son of Joas, 2 Kings 13:13. and 14. For Jerobeam the son of Nebat had been dead long before.]

18. Of the children of Reuben, and of the Gadites and of the half tribe of Manasseh, of the most warlike men, bearing shield and sword, and bending the bow, [See the annotate. Below chap.8.20.] and expert in the war, (there) were four and fourty thousand, and seven hundred and threescore that went forth into the host.

19. And they waged war against the Hagarens: And (against) Jetur, and Nephis, and Nodab. [See of these Gen.25.14. where it appeareth, that they were Ismaelites.]

20. But they were helped [To wit, of God, v.22.] against them, [to wit, against the Hagarens] and the Hagarens were delivered into their hand, etc all that werewith them: because they cryed to God in the battle, he suffered himself to be intreated of them, for as much as they trusted in him.

21. And they carried away captive their cattle, of their camels fifty thousand: And two hundred and fifty thousand sheep, and two thousand asses, and an hundred thousand souls of men.

22. For there fell many wounded, [i.e. who being mortally wounded, died of their wounds] because the battle was of God: [i.e. God fought for them against their Enemies] And they dwelt in their room until they were carried away captive. [to wit, unto Assyria. See 2 Kings 17:6. and 15.29.]

23. Now the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in that land: they were multipled from Basan unto Baal Hermon, and Senir, and mount Hermon. [See Deut.3.9.]

24. Now these were the heads of their Fathers houses: To wit, Hepher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremia, and Hodavjah, and Jahdiel, men strong in power, men of name, heads of the houses of their Fathers.

25. But they transgressed against the God of their Fathers: and went a whoring after the Gods of the nations of the Land, [To wit, by many fearful idolatries, as is mentioned 2 Kings 17:7. etc.] whom God had destroyed before their face.

26. So he the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, [See 2 Kings 15.ver.2.19.] and the spirit of Tiglath-Pilneser king of Assyria, who carried them captive away, (to wit), the Ribenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh: And he brought them to Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the River Gozan, [understand this of the first captivity, of which see 2 Kings 15. Vers.29. but 2 Kings 17:6. is related the last carrying away by Salmanasser] unto this day. [that is, they are there unto this day. Understand that this captivity lasted unto that very day, or that they dwelt there unto that very day, in which this was written.]