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REUBEN

GAD

THE HALF-TRIBE OF MANASSEH

1 CHRONICLES 5:1-26



Reuben

Gad

The Half-Tribe of Manasseh

Commentary and Questions

By

John C. Sewell

Text:

1 Chronicles 5:1-26,

Reuben

The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but

when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his rights as firstborn

were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be

listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler

came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph)—the

sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel:

Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron and Carmi.

The descendants of Joel:

Shemaiah his son, Gog his son,

Shimei his son, Micah his son,



Reaiah his son, Baal his son,

and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria

took into exile. Beerah was a leader of the Reubenites.

Their relatives by clans, listed according to their genealogical

records:

Jeiel the chief, Zechariah, and Bela son of Azaz, the son of

Shema, the son of Joel. They settled in the area from

Aroer to Nebo and Baal Meon. To the east they occupied

the land up to the edge of the desert that extends to the

Euphrates River, because their livestock had increased in

Gilead.

During Saul’s reign they waged war against the

Hagrites, who were defeated at their hands; they occupied

the dwellings of the Hagrites throughout the entire region

east of Gilead.

Gad

The Gadites lived next to them in Bashan, as far as Salecah:

Joel was the chief, Shapham the second, then Janai and

Shaphat, in Bashan.

Their relatives, by families, were:

Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia and Eber—

seven in all.

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.



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

family.

The Gadites lived in Gilead,

in Bashan and its outlying villages, and on all the

pasturelands of Sharon as far as they extended.

All these were entered in the genealogical records during the

reigns of Jotham king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel.

The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of

Manasseh had 44,760 men ready for military service —able-bodied

men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a bow, and

who were trained for battle. They waged war against the Hagrites,

Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. They were helped in fighting them, and

God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because

they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers,

because they trusted in him. They seized the livestock of the

Hagrites—fifty thousand camels, two hundred fifty thousand sheep

and two thousand donkeys. They also took one hundred thousand

people captive, and many others fell slain, because the battle was

God’s. And they occupied the land until the exile.


The people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were numerous;

they settled in the land from Bashan to Baal Hermon, that is, to

Senir (Mount Hermon).

These were the heads of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel,

Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel. They were brave warriors,

famous men, and heads of their families. But they were unfaithful to

the God of their fathers and prostituted themselves to the gods of

the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So

the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is,



Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), who took the Reubenites, the

Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to

Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan, where they are to this

day. (NIV1984)

Introduction:

I. 1 Chronicles 5 speaks of three tribes which lived east of the Jordan

River; viz., Reuben, Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh. (Hicks)

A. This area east of the Jordan River is known as Transjordan.

(Hicks)

II. Identifying a particular person in the genealogical record is

complicated by, among other things, the fact that more than one person

has the same name (for example, there are up to fourteen (14) people in

the Bible named Joel) and several names have various spelling.

Commentary:

Reuben

1 Chronicles 5:1-10, The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he

was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his

rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so

he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with

his birthright, and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers

and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to

Joseph)—the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel:

Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron and Carmi.

The descendants of Joel:



Shemaiah his son, Gog his son,

Shimei his son, Micah his son,

Reaiah his son, Baal his son,

and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria

took into exile. Beerah was a leader of the Reubenites.

Their relatives by clans, listed according to their genealogical

records:

Jeiel the chief, Zechariah, and Bela son of Azaz, the son of

Shema, the son of Joel. They settled in the area from

Aroer to Nebo and Baal Meon. To the east they occupied

the land up to the edge of the desert that extends to the

Euphrates River, because their livestock had increased in

Gilead.

During Saul’s reign they waged war against the

Hagrites, who were defeated at their hands; they occupied

the dwellings of the Hagrites throughout the entire region

east of Gilead.

Gad

The Gadites lived next to them in Bashan, as far as Salecah:

Joel was the chief, Shapham the second, then Janai and

Shaphat, in Bashan.

Their relatives, by families, were:

Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia and Eber—

seven in all.



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.

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

family.

The Gadites lived in Gilead,

in Bashan and its outlying villages, and on all the

pasturelands of Sharon as far as they extended.

All these were entered in the genealogical records during

the reigns of Jotham king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel.

The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of

Manasseh had 44,760 men ready for military service —able-bodied

men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a bow, and

who were trained for battle. They waged war against the Hagrites,

Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. They were helped in fighting them, and

God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because

they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers,





God’s. And they occupied the land until the exile.


The people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were numerous;

they settled in the land from Bashan to Baal Hermon, that is, to

Senir (Mount Hermon).

These were the heads of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel,

Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel. They were brave warriors,



famous men, and heads of their families. But they were unfaithful to

the God of their fathers and prostituted themselves to the gods of

the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So

the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is,

Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), who took the Reubenites, the

Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to

Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan, where they are to this

day. (NIV1984)

I. Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn, but he forfeited all rights of

primogeniture due to immorality.

A. Genesis 35: 21,22, Israel moved on again and pitched his

tent beyond Migdal Eder. While Israel was living in that

region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine

Bilhah, and Israel heard of it.

Jacob had twelve sons: (NIV1984)

B. Genesis 49:1,2, Then Jacob called for his sons and said:

“Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in

days to come. “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to

your father Israel. (NIV1984)

C. Reuben was the biologically firstborn. (Hicks)

II. Preeminence was given to Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh).

A. Genesis 48:5-7, “Now then, your two sons born to you in

Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine;

Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and

Simeon are mine. Any children born to you after them will be

yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under

the names of their brothers. As I was returning from Paddan,

to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were



still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her

there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).

(NIV1984)

B. Ephraim and Manasseh became the largest and most significant

of the northern tribes. (Hicks)

C. Joseph was legally nominated by Jacob to take the place of

Reuben as heir of the rights of primogeniture. (Japhet via Hicks)

D. Judah came to wield the actual authority expected of the

firstborn. (Japhet via Hicks)

1. 1 Chronicles 2:3,4, The sons of Judah: Er, Onan and

Shelah. These three were born to him by a Canaanite

woman, the daughter of Shua. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was

wicked in the LORD’s sight; so the LORD put him to

death. Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore him Perez

and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all. (NIV1984)

2. The ruler of all Israel would emerge from Judah and this

was a great encouragement to the postexilic community.

(Hicks)

a. 1 Chronicles 11:2, In the past, even while Saul was

king, you were the one who led Israel on their

military campaigns. And the LORD your God said to

you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you

will become their ruler. ’” (NIV1984)

b. 1 Chronicles 17:7, “Now then, tell my servant

David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took

you from the pasture and from following the flock,

to be ruler over my people Israel. (NIV1984)



c. 1 Chronicles 28:4, “Yet the LORD, the God of

Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king

over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and

from the house of Judah he chose my family, and

from my father’s sons he was pleased to make me

king over all Israel. (NIV1984)

E. “God grants status by privilege rather than right; by grace rather

than merit.” (Selmen via Hicks)

1 Chronicles 5:3-10, the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel:

Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. The descendants of Joel:

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

Reaiah his son, Baal his son, and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-

Pileser king of Assyria took into exile. Beerah was a leader of the

Reubenites. Their relatives by clans, listed according to their

genealogical records: Jeiel the chief, Zechariah, and Bela son of

Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel. They settled in the area

from Aroer to Nebo and Baal Meon. To the east they occupied the

land up to the edge of the desert that extends to the Euphrates

River, because their livestock had increased in Gilead. During Saul’s

reign they waged war against the Hagrites , who were defeated at

their hands; they occupied the dwellings of the Hagrites throughout

the entire region east of Gilead. (NIV1984)

I. The sons of Reuben:

A. Hanoch

1. Hanoch was Reuben’s firstborn son.

a. Genesis 46:9, The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu,

Hezron and Carmi. (NIV1984)



b. Exodus 6:14, These were the heads of their

families: The sons of Reuben the firstborn son of

Israel were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi.

These were the clans of Reuben. (NIV1984)

2. Hanoch’s descendants were known as Hanochites.

a. Numbers 26:5, The descendants of Reuben, the

firstborn son of Israel, were: through Hanoch, the

Hanochite clan; through Pallu, the Palluite clan;

(NIV1984)

B. Pallu

1. Pallu was the father of Eliab.

a. Numbers 26:5, 8, The descendants of Reuben, the

firstborn son of Israel, were: through Hanoch, the

Hanochite clan; through Pallu, the Palluite clan;

The son of Pallu was Eliab, (NIV1984)

b. Genesis 46:9, The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu,


2. Pallu was Reuben’s second son.

C. Hezron

1. Genesis 46:9, The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu,


2. Exodus 6:14, These were the heads of their families:

The sons of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel were

Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the

clans of Reuben. (NIV1984)



3. Numbers 26:6, through Hezron, the Hezronite clan;

through Carmi, the Carmite clan. (NIV1984)

D. Carmi

1. A son of Reuben who went to Egypt with Jacob.

a. Genesis 46:1-9, So Israel set out with all that was

his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered

sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. And God

spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob!

Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. “I am God, the

God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go

down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great

nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I

will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own

hand will close your eyes. ” Then Jacob left

Beersheba, and Israel’s sons took their father Jacob

and their children and their wives in the carts that

Pharaoh had sent to transport him. They also took

with them their livestock and the possessions they

had acquired in Canaan, and Jacob and all his

offspring went to Egypt. He took with him to Egypt

his sons and grandsons and his daughters and

granddaughters—all his offspring. These are the

names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his

descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben the

firstborn of Jacob. The sons of Reuben: Hanoch,

Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. (NIV1984)

b. Exodus 6:14, These were the heads of their

families: The sons of Reuben the firstborn son of



Israel were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi.

These were the clans of Reuben. (NIV1984)

II. The descendants of Joel:

A. Joel

1. A descendant of Reuben and father of Shemaiah.

B. Shemaiah, Joel’s son.

1. This person may be the same as Shem of 1 Chronicles

5:8, and Bela son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of

Joel. They settled in the area from Aroer to Nebo and

Baal Meon. (NIV1984)

C. Gog, Shemaiah’s son.

D. Shimei, Gog’s son, and head of a Reubenite clan.

E. Micah, Shimei’s son.

F. Reaiah (Reaia), Micah’s son.

G. Baal, Reaiah’s son.

H. Beerah, Baal’s son.

1. Tiglath – Pileser III King of Assyria (745-727 B.C.) took

Beerah into exile in 733 B.C.

a. 2 Chronicles 28:20, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria

came to him, but he gave him trouble instead of

help. (NIV1984)



b. 2 Kings 15:29, In the time of Pekah king of Israel,

Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon,

Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He

took Gilead and Galilee, including all the land of

Naphtali, and deported the people to Assyria.

(NIV1984)

c. Beerah was a leader of the Reubenites.

d. 2 Kings 16:7-9, Ahaz sent messengers to say to

Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, “I am your servant

and vassal. Come up and save me out of the hand of

the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are

attacking me.” 8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold

found in the temple of the LORD and in the

treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as a gift to

the king of Assyria. 9 The king of Assyria complied

by attacking Damascus and capturing it. He

deported its inhabitants to Kir and put Rezin to

death. (NIV1984)

III. Their relatives by clans, listed according to their genealogical

records:

A. A clan is a group of families, the heads of which claim a

common ancestry. (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc.)

B. Jeiel the chief

C. Zechariah

D. Bela, son of Azaz, was a person of great power and wealth.

E. Azaz, the son of Shema



F. Shema, the son of Joel

1. This Shema may be the same as Shemaiah or Shem of

verse 4.

IV. The above mentioned people settled in the area from Aroer to Nebo

and Baal Meon.

A. Aroer

1. This city was located on the northern rim of a canyon

overlooking the Arnon River.

B. Nebo

1. Nebo was a town in Moab assigned to the tribe of Reuben.

Some associate Nebo with Medeba.

C. Baal Meon

1. Baal Meon has been identified with Ma’in, the results of

which have been found 4 miles SW of Medeba.

V. To the east they occupied the land up to the edge of the desert that

extends to the Euphrates River, because their livestock had increased in

Gilead.

A. Gilead

1. “Gilead”, as used in the Old Testament, is a rather precise

name of a city and the entirety of the Transjordan. “Gilead”

is most closely associated with the region around the Jabbok

River. (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)



VI. During Saul’s reign they waged war against the Hagrites, who were

defeated at their hands; they occupied the dwellings of the Hagrites

throughout the entire region east of Gilead.

A. Hagrites

1. 1 Chronicles 27:20, over the Ephraimites: Hoshea son

of Azaziah; over half the tribe of Manasseh: Joel son of

Pedaiah; (NIV1984)

2. Psalm 83:6, the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,

of Moab and the Hagrites, (NIV1984)

3. Hagrites were descendants of Hagar, a nomadic tribe of

Aramean or Arabian origin. They were a pastoral Bedouin

people who lived in the Transjordan east of Gilead.

B. 1 Chronicles 5:18-22, The Reubenites, the Gadites and the

half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men ready for military

service —able-bodied men who could handle shield and sword,

who could use a bow, and who were trained for battle. They

waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab.

They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the

Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried

out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers,


Hagrites—fifty thousand camels, two hundred fifty thousand

sheep and two thousand donkeys. They also took one hundred

thousand people captive, and many others fell slain, because

the battle was God’s. And they occupied the land until the

exile. (NIV1984)

Gad



1 Chronicles 5:11-22, The Gadites lived next to them in Bashan, as

far as Salecah: Joel was the chief, Shapham the second, then Janai

and Shaphat, in Bashan. Their relatives, by families, were: Michael,

Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia and Eber—seven in all. 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. Ahi son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was head of their

family. The Gadites lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its outlying

villages, and on all the pasturelands of Sharon as far as they

extended. All these were entered in the genealogical records during

the reigns of Jotham king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel. The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had

44,760 men ready for military service —able-bodied men who could

handle shield and sword, who could use a bow, and who were

trained for battle. They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur,

Naphish and Nodab. They were helped in fighting them, and God

handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they

cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers,





God’s. And they occupied the land until the exile. (NIV1984)

1 Chronicles 5. 11-12, The Gadites lived next to them in Bashan, as

far as Salecah: Joel was the chief, Shapham the second, then Janai

and Shaphat, in Bashan. (NIV 1984)

I. The Gadites lived next to the Reubenites in Bashan as far as Salecah.

Note: “None of the descendants of Gad listed here is otherwise known

in the Old Testament.” (Braun via Hicks)

A. Bashan



1. “This territory, a fertile plateau, was located east of the

Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee.” (Youngblood)

B. Salecah

1. “A city (Salkhad) marking the eastern boundary of Bashan,

at one time belonging to the kingdom of Og, located on the

eastern boundary of Gad.” (Bromiley)

II. Rulers in Bashan in order of rank were:

A. Joel, chief ruler.

1. “A man of the tribe of Gad, and a chief in the land of

Bashan.” (Youngblood)

B. Shapham, second ruler; that is, second in command.

1. He lived in Bashan. (Bromiley)

C. then Janai (Joanai)

1. “Janai was chief of a family descended from Gad.”

(Youngblood)

D. and Shaphat.

1. “Shaphat was a descendant of Gad in the days of Jotham of

Judah.” (Youngblood)

1. “A Gadite who lived in Bashan.” (Bromiley)



1 Chronicles 5:13-17, Their relatives, by families, were: Michael,

Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia and Eber—seven in all. 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. Ahi son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was head of their

family. The Gadites lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its outlying

villages, and on all the pasturelands of Sharon as far as they

extended. All these were entered in the genealogical records during

the reigns of Jotham king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel.

(NIV1984)

I. Their relatives by families were:

A. Michael

1. “A descendant of Gad who settled in Bashan.”

(Youngblood)

2. Nothing more is known of this Michael.

a. This Michael is not to be confused with another

Michael named in verse 14. (Bromiley)

B. Meshullum

1. “A leader of the tribe of Gad during the reign of Jotham of

Judah.” (Youngblood)

2. “The head of a Gadite family that lived in Bashan.”

(Bromiley)

C. Sheba



1. “A chief of the tribe of Gad who lived in Gilead in Bashan

during the reign of Jeroboam II of Israel.” (Youngblood)

2. “A Gadite, son of Abihail. He was apparently a leader of

his kinsmen in the region of Bashan. His family was enrolled

in the official registry during the reigns of Jotham king of

Judah and Jeroboam II king of Israel.” (Bromiley)

D. Jorai

1. “A chief of the tribe of Gad.” (Youngblood)

2. Jorai may be the name of a Gadite clan. (Bromiley)

E. Jacan (Jachan)

1. “A clan leader, a chief, of the tribe of Gad.”

(Youngblood)

F. Zia

1. “A Gadite who lived in Bashan.” (Youngblood)

2. “Head of a Gadite clan.” (Bromiley)

G. Eber

1. “A family of the tribe of Gad.” (Youngblood)

2. “A Gadite.” (Bromiley)

H. —seven in all.

II. These were the sons of:



A. Abihail

1. “The head of a family in the tribe of Gad who lived in

Gilead of Bashan.” (Youngblood)

B. son of Huri,

1. “The father of Abihail.” (Youngblood)

2. “One of the immediate descendants of Gad, and father of

Abihail; a chief man of his family.” (Bromiley)

C. the son of Jaroch,

1. “The father of Huri, of the tribe of Gad.” (Youngblood)

2. “A Gadite chief.” (Bromiley)

D. the son of Gilead,

1. “A chief of the family of Gad.” (Youngblood)

2. “A descendant of Gad and the ancestor of one of the clans

of the Gadites.” (Bromiley)

E. the son of Michael,

1. “Another descendant of Gad” (Youngblood), not to be

confused with the Michael of verse 13.

F. the son of Jeshishai,

1. “A son of Jahdo.” (Youngblood)

2. “A Gadite chief.” (Bromiley)



G. the son of Jahdo,

1. “A son of Buz the Gadite.” (Youngblood)

H. the son of Buz

1. “A son (descendant) of Abihail in the genealogy of the

tribe of Gad.” (Youngblood)

I. Ahi son of…

1. This person was head of his family.

2. “A son of Abdiel, of the tribe of Gad.” (Youngblood)

J. Abdiel, son of…

1. “A man of the tribe of Gad who lived in Gilead, in

Bashan.” (Youngblood)

2. Abdiel dates to the time of Jotham King of Judah or

Jereboam II King of Israel. (Bromiley)

K. Guni

1. “Father of Abdiel.” (Youngblood)

2. “The head of a Gadite family.” (Bromiley)

III. The Gadites lived in…

A. Gilead,

1. “A mountain region east of the Jordan River extending

about 97 kilometers (60 miles) from the south end of the Sea

of Galilee to the north end of the Dead Sea. Gilead is about

20 miles west to east. (Youngblood)



B. in Bashan and its outlying villages,

1. “The territory east of the Jordan River and the Sea of

Galilee.” (Youngblood)

C. and on all the pasturelands of Sharon as far as they extended.

1. “A district in Transjordan, the area east of the Jordan

River, occupied by the tribe of Gad.” (Youngblood)

IV. All of these were entered in the genealogical records during the

reigns of:

A. The likely date in question is circa 750 B.C., a time of peace

between the north and south. (Braun via Hicks)

B. Jotham King of Judah and…

1. “A son of Uzziah (Azariah) and the 11th

king of Judah,

who reigned from about 750-732 B.C.

2. Jotham ruled as co-regent with his father when it was

discovered that Uzziah had leprosy. (Youngblood)

C. Jereboam II King of Israel

1. “Jeroboam II, the 14th

king of Israel, who reigned for 41

years (793-753 B.C.)” (Youngblood)

1 Chronicles 5:18-22, The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe

of Manasseh had 44,760 men ready for military service —able-

bodied men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a

bow, and who were trained for battle. They waged war against the

Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. They were helped in fighting

them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them,



because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their

prayers, because they trusted in him. They seized the livestock of

the Hagrites—fifty thousand camels, two hundred fifty thousand

sheep and two thousand donkeys. They also took one hundred

thousand people captive, and many others fell slain, because the

battle was God’s. And they occupied the land until the exile.

(NIV1984)

I. The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had

44,760 men ready for military service.

A. They were able-bodied men who could handle shield and

sword, who could use a bow and who were trained for battle.

B. They waged war against the:

1. Hagrites

a. “Descendants of Hagar. A nomadic tribe of Aramean

or Arabian origin that lived in Transjordan east of

Gilead. The Hagrites were a pastoral Bedouin people”

(Youngblood)

b. Bromiley wrote “The extent to which the Hagrites

were related to Hagar the mother of Ishmael has yet to

be determined.”

2. Jetur

a. “A son of Ishmael. His tribe warred against the

tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of

Manasseh.” (Youngblood)



b. These people are the Itureans of New Testament

times.

3. Naphish

a. “A son of Ishmael and the founder of a clan against

which the Israelite tribes east of the Jordan River were

victorious.” (Youngblood)

4. Nadab

a. “An Arabian tribe of the Syrian desert, east of the

Jordan River.” (Youngblood)

b. “A Hagrite clan which, along with Jetur and Naphish,

was completely defeated by the Transjordan Israelite

tribes.” (Bromiley)

C. They (Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manassah) were

helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their

allies over to them because they (Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of

Manasseh) cried out to him during the battle.

1. He (God) answered their prayers, because they trusted in

him.

2. They seized the livestock of the Hagrites – fifty thousand

camels, two hundred fifty thousand sheep and two thousand

donkeys.

3. They also took one hundred thousand people captive, and

many others fell slain, because the battle was God’s.



4. And they occupied the land until the exile; that is, the

Assyrian captivity. (Hicks)

D. The Chronicles emphasized “divine help, answered prayer in

battle and trust in God.” (Selman via Hicks)

1. “Theologically, the war belongs to God, and victory is

assured if the people of God will cry out to him and trust

him.” (Hicks)

2. The army was skilled and well prepared, but they relied on

God because He alone gives victory. (Hicks)

a. In all our endeavors we must never lose sight of this

principle!


1 Chronicles 5:23-26, The people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were

numerous; they settled in the land from Bashan to Baal Hermon,

that is, to Senir (Mount Hermon). These were the heads of their

families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel.

They were brave warriors, famous men, and heads of their families. But they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and prostituted

themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had

destroyed before them. So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of

Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), who

took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into

exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan,

where they are to this day. (NIV1984)

1 Chronicles 5:23, The people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were

numerous; they settled in the land from Bashan to Baal Hermon,

that is, to Senir (Mount Hermon). (NIV1984)

I. The people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were numerous;…



A. “This genealogical list is only for the half of Manasseh which

lived next to Reuben and Gad in the Transjordan. (Hicks)

B. The other half tribe’s genealogy is found in 1 Chronicles 7:14-

19. (Hicks)

1. 1 Chronicles 7:14 – 19, The descendants of Manasseh:

Asriel was his descendant through his Aramean

concubine. She gave birth to Makir the father of Gilead. Makir took a wife from among the Huppites and

Shuppites. His sister’s name was Maacah. Another

descendant was named Zelophehad, who had only

daughters. Makir’s wife Maacah gave birth to a son and

named him Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh, and

his sons were Ulam and Rakem. The son of Ulam: Bedan.

These were the sons of Gilead son of Makir, the son of

Manasseh. His sister Hammoleketh gave birth to Ishhod,

Abiezer and Mahlah. The sons of Shemida were: Ahian,

Shechem, Likhi and Aniam. (NIV1984)

II. They settled in the land from…

A. Bashan to …

1. Bashan was the territory east of the Jordan River and the

Sea of Galilee. (Youngblood)

B. Baal Hermon, that is, to Senir (Mount Hermon).

1. Mount Hermon was located near Damascus (Hicks) “east

of the Jordan River.” (Youngblood)

2. “Some scholars believe the Hebrew text may originally

have read, “Baal Gad near Mount Hermon” (Youngblood)



a. Joshua 13:5, the area of the Gebalites; and all

Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount

Hermon to Lebo Hamath. (NIV1984)

b. Deuteronomy 3:8-10, So at that time we took from

these two kings of the Amorites the territory east of

the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge as far as Mount

Hermon. (Hermon is called Sirion by the Sidonians;

the Amorites call it Senir.) We took all the towns on

the plateau, and all Gilead, and all Bashan as far as

Salecah and Edrei, towns of Og’s kingdom in

Bashan. (NIV1984)

c. Ezekiel 27:5, They made all your timbers of pine

trees from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to

make a mast for you. (NIV1984)

1 Chronicles 5:24-26, These were the heads of their families: Epher,

Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel. They were brave

warriors, famous men, and heads of their families. But they were

unfaithful to the God of their fathers and prostituted themselves to

the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before

them. So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria

(that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), who took the Reubenites,

the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them

to Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan, where they are to

this day. (NIV1984)

I. These were the heads of their clans, families:

Note: Manasseh’s sons are not named. (Numbers 26:29, The

descendants of Manasseh: through Makir, the Makirite clan (Makir

was the father of Gilead); through Gilead, the Gileadite clan.

(NIV1984); Joshua 17:2, So this allotment was for the rest of the

people of Manasseh —the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem,



Hepher and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans. (NIV1984)) (Hicks)

A. Epher

1. “A head of a family in the half-tribe of Manasseh east of

the Jordan River.” (Youngblood)

B. Ishi

1. “A chief of the half-tribe of Manasseh, east of the Jordon

River.” (Youngblood)

C. Eliel

1. “A chief of the half-tribe of Manasseh.” (Youngblood)

D. Azriel

1. “A chief of the tribe of Manasseh.” (Youngblood)

E. Jeremiah

1. “The head of a family of the tribe of Manasseh.”

(Youngblood)

2. This Jeremiah, one of nine men in the Old Testament with

this name, is not to be confused with Jeremiah who wrote the

books of Jeremiah and Lamentations.

F. Hodaviah

1. “A family head of the half-tribe of Manasseh, east of the

Jordon River.” (Youngblood)

G. Jahdiel



1. “A leader in the half-tribe of Manasseh who lived in the

Transjordan.” (Youngblood)

Note: Very little is known of the men mentioned in verse 24.

II. They were brave warriors, famous men, and heads of their families.

A. However, these qualities could not protect them from the wrath

of God!

III. BUT they were:

A. unfaithful to the God of their fathers and…

B. prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land,…

1. Often in the Old Testament unfaithfulness to God

(idolatry) was regarded as immorality, playing the harlot.

a. 2 Chronicles 21:11, 13, He had also built high

places on the hills of Judah and had caused the

people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and

had led Judah astray. 13

But you have walked in the

ways of the kings of Israel, and you have led Judah

and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute

themselves, just as the house of Ahab did. You have

also murdered your own brothers, members of your

father’s house, men who were better than you.

(NIV1984)

2. Whom God had destroyed before them.

a. Hicks wrote, “This is the ultimate theological insult –

to worship the very gods that God had destroyed the

previous inhabitants of the land for worshipping.



II. So the God of Israel stirred up the…

A. spirit of Pul (Pulu in Neo-Babylonian sources) (that is, Tiglath-

Pileser king of Assyria),…

1. 2 Kings 15:19, 27-29, Then Pul king of Assyria invaded

the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents of

silver to gain his support and strengthen his own hold on

the kingdom. 27

In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of

Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king of Israel in

Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. He did evil in the

eyes of the LORD. He did not turn away from the sins of

Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to

commit. In the time of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-

Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth

Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He took Gilead and

Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and deported

the people to Assyria. (NIV1984)

2. Pul reigned in Calah B.C. 800 – 750.

3. Isaiah 9:1, Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom

for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the

land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the

future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of

the sea, along the Jordan— (NIV1984)

4. Hicks observed that this passage indicates divine initiative.

a. 2 Chronicles 21:16, The LORD aroused against

Jehoram the hostility of the Philistines and of the

Arabs who lived near the Cushites. (NIV1984)

b. Ezra 1:1, In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia,

in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by



Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king

of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his

realm and to put it in writing: (NIV1984)

c. God punished Israel through Assyria. (Hicks)

B. who took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of

Manasseh into exile.

1. 2 Kings 17:7-23, All this took place because the

Israelites had sinned against the LORD their God, who

had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power

of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods and

followed the practices of the nations the LORD had driven

out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of

Israel had introduced. The Israelites secretly did things

against the LORD their God that were not right. From

watchtower to fortified city they built themselves high

places in all their towns. They set up sacred stones and

Asherah poles on every high hill and under every

spreading tree. At every high place they burned incense,

as the nations whom the LORD had driven out before

them had done. They did wicked things that provoked the

LORD to anger. They worshiped idols, though the LORD

had said, “You shall not do this.” The LORD warned

Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers:

“Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and

decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I

commanded your fathers to obey and that I delivered to

you through my servants the prophets.” But they would

not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who

did not trust in the LORD their God. They rejected his

decrees and the covenant he had made with their fathers

and the warnings he had given them. They followed



worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They

imitated the nations around them although the LORD had

ordered them, “Do not do as they do,” and they did the

things the LORD had forbidden them to do.

They forsook all the commands of the LORD their God

and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of

calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the

starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal. They sacrificed

their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced

divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil in

the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger. So the

LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from

his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, and even

Judah did not keep the commands of the LORD their God.

They followed the practices Israel had introduced.

Therefore the LORD rejected all the people of Israel; he

afflicted them and gave them into the hands of

plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence. When

he tore Israel away from the house of David, they made

Jeroboam son of Nebat their king. Jeroboam enticed

Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to

commit a great sin. The Israelites persisted in all the sins

of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them until the

LORD removed them from his presence, as he had warned

through all his servants the prophets. So the people of

Israel were taken from their homeland into exile in

Assyria, and they are still there. (NIV1984)

C. He took them to places in upper Mesopotamia instead of leaving

them in the land of their fathers. (Hicks)

1. Isaiah 9:1, Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom

for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the



land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the

future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of

the sea, along the Jordan— (NIV1984)

2. Halah,…

a. “A district of the Assyrian Empire to which

Shalmanezer exiled some of the Israelites.”

(Youngblood)

3. Habor,…

a. “Apparently the region (Halah) included the basin in

the Habor (Khabur) River.” (Hicks)

1. 2 Kings 17:6, In the ninth year of Hoshea,

the king of Assyria captured Samaria and

deported the Israelites to Assyria. He settled

them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River

and in the towns of the Medes. (NIV1984)

b. Habor was “a tributary of the Euphrates River that

flowed through Gozan, a region of Mesopotamia.

(Youngblood)

c. “Tiglath-Pileser and “the king of Assyria” – probably

Sargon II – settled along the Habor River some of the

Israelites who had been deported from Samaria. Habor

is probably the modern Khabur River.” (Youngblood)

4. Hara and …



a. “A place in Assyria to which some of the Israelites

were taken into captivity by Tiglath-Pileaser.”

(Youngblood)

5. the river Gozan,…

a. “A city or region in northern Mesopotamia, on the

river Habor (or Khabur), to which the Israelites were

deported by the king of Assyria after the destruction of

Samaria.” (Youngblood)

1. Isaiah 37:12, Did the gods of the nations that

were destroyed by my forefathers deliver

them—the gods of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph and

the people of Eden who were in Tel Assar?

(NIV1984)

2. “In 5:26” the river Goza doubtless means “river

in the region of” Gozan” (Youngblood)

6. where they are to this day.

a. This day refers to the time 1 Chronicles 5:26 was

written.

b. Bromiley places the writing of Chronicles circa 400

B.C. in the days of Ezra who is regarded as their author.





Questions

1 Chronicles 5:1-26

(Questions based on NIV text)

1. Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn. Why did he lose his birthright?______

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

2. To whom was the birthright given? Why do you think Jacob made

this decision? _______________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

3. What rights came to Judah? How did Judah secure these benefits?

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

4. The sons of Reuben were ______________, _____________,

_____________ and _____________.

5. 1 Chronicles 5 speaks of _____________ ______________ which

lived ______________of the _____________ _____________; viz.,



________________, ________________ and _______________of the

____________________ of __________________________. This area

______________ of the ______________ ____________ is known as

______________.

6. In the genealogical records in Chronicles, why is identifying a

particular person sometimes difficult?____________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

7. “_____________ grants ____________ by _____________ rather

than _____________; by ____________ rather than _____________.”

(Selman via Hicks)

8. ____________ begat _____________ who begat _____________ ,

who begat _______________ who begat ___________ who begat

_____________ who begat ____________ who begat __________.

9. What does the Bible say about Beerah and his relationship with

Tiglath – Pileser III? _________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

10. Define clan. ____________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________



__________________________________________________________

11. Where did the tribe of Reuben settle? _________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

12. Locate Gilead. __________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

13. Who were the Hagrites? Tell of their interactions with Reuben. ____

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

14. Where did the Gadites live? Geographically locate these places.

(See verse 11 and 16). _______________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

15. Name four chiefs of the Gadites. ____________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________



__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

16. Name seven relatives of the Gadites by families. _______________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

17. “These were the sons of _____________ son of ___________, the

son of ______________, the son of _________________, the son of

_____________, the son of ____________, the son of __________.”

(See verse 14)

18. “___________________ son of ____________________, the son of

_________________, was ______________ of their ______________.”

19. When were these people entered in the genealogical records? Who

were these kings? Give as much information about these kings as you

can? _____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

20. “The ____________, the ___________ and the _____________ -

____________ of ___________ had ___________men ready for

____________, _____________ - __________- - ________ men who

could handle _____________ and _______________ , who could use a

____________ and who were __________ for ___________.”



21. Against whom did they wage war? What were the results of this

conflict? ___________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

22. What is referenced in verse 22? _______________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

23. “They were ____________in __________ them, because they

__________ out to him __________ the __________. He answered

their __________, because they __________in him.”

24. Reconcile the idea of Gad’s army being highly skilled and well

trained with the idea that God gave them the victory. When did Gad ask

God for help? What do you think of that? ________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

25. What does the Bible say about the individual Gadites mentioned in

verses 11-22 and elsewhere in Scriptures? ________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________



__________________________________________________________

26. Who were the people of Jetur, Naphish and Nadab? _____________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

27. Where did the half-tribe of Manasseh addressed in 1 Chronicles

5:23-26 live? Where did the other half-tribe of Manasseh live? ______

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

28. Geographically locate Bashan and Baal Hermon. _______________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

29. Name the heads of their families. ___________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

30. What does the Bible say about these specific people other than what

is said in 1 Chronicles 5:23-26? ________________________________

__________________________________________________________



__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

31. “They were _____________ _____________, ___________ men,

and ___________ of their _____________.”

32. What did these people do wrong? Be specific. Give details. ______

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

33. What was God’s response to the sinfulness of this half-tribe of

Manasseh? ________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

34. Does God act today to alter history, current events to punish sin?

Give reasons for your answer. _________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

35. Tell all you can about Tiglath-Pileser. ________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________



__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

36. Tell all you can about the exile mentioned in verse 26. ___________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

37. Geographically locate Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan. __

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

38. How long were these people in exile? ________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

39. Who wrote 1 Chronicles? __________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

40. Date “this day” mentioned in verse 26. _______________________

__________________________________________________________



__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________



Bibliography

1. The College Press NIV Commentary, 1 & 2 Chronicles, John Mark

Hicks, College Press Publishing Company, Joplin, Missouri, 2001

2. The Holt Intermediate Dictionary of American English, Holt, Rinehart

and Winston, Inc., New York, 1967.

3. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Volumes 1-4,

Geoffrey W. Bromiley, General Editor, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing

Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1979.

4. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Ronald F. Youngblood,

General Editor, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1995.

5. The Holy Bible, New International Version, Zondervan, Grand

Rapids, Michaigan 49530, 1984.

Documents

REUBEN GAD THE HALF-TRIBE OF MANASSEH 1 CHRONICLES …biblestudyworkshop.com/download/old/1_chronicles/1Chronicles5.pdf · region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine