1 Chronicles · Chapter 5

V. 1. Sons of Israel-This is added emphatically, because they were treated as if they had been the immediate sons of Jacob. Not reckoned-This is the second reason, which sheweth both why Reuben’s genealogy was not first mentioned; and if another tribe was to be ranked before it, why that was Judah, and not Joseph, because the order of their genealogy was not to be ruled by the birthright, but by an higher privilege, which was given to Judah.

Verse 1. The sons of Reuben the first-born] As Reuben was the eldest son of Jacob, why was not his genealogy reviewed first? This verse answers the question; he lost the birth-right because of the transgression mentioned Genesis 35:22; 49:4, and the precedency was given to Judah; from him therefore came the chief ruler. This appears to be the meaning of the place.

Verse 1. The son of Israel — This is added emphatically, because the sons of Joseph, Manasseh, and Ephraim were treated as if they had been the immediate sons of Jacob. The genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright — This is the second reason which showeth both why Reuben’s genealogy was not first mentioned, and if another tribe was to be ranked before it, why that was Judah, and not Joseph, because the order of their genealogy was not to be ruled by the birthright, but by a higher privilege, which was given to Judah.

1, 2. — His birthright was given unto… Joseph — This might be readily inferred from the censure of Reuben in Genesis 49:4, compared with the ample blessings pronounced on Joseph, (Genesis 49:22-26,) and the paternal gift of the “one portion above his brethren,” recorded Genesis 48:22; but the transfer of Reuben’s birthright to Joseph is nowhere else expressly recorded. The birthright of the firstborn entitled its possessor to a double portion of the inheritance, (Deuteronomy 21:17,) and Joseph’s rights in this regard were conceded in the allotment of Canaan by his receiving the large territory assigned to Ephraim and Manasseh, the latter receiving two portions, one east and the other west of the Jordan. The genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birth-right — Joseph’s honour in receiving the birthright did not, however, yield him the noblest genealogy, for in this respect Judah prevailed above his brethren, and was honoured in being the father of a line of kings the most celebrated in human history. Of him came the chief ruler — The princely David, and the magnificent Solomon, and their descendants who reigned at Jerusalem, while dynasty after dynasty rose and fell in the kingdom of Israel, and also in Egypt, Assyria, and Babylonia. The chief ruler here doubtless refers particularly to David, but may also point to the prince Messiah, that greatest “ruler in Israel,” who came from “among the thousands of Judah.” Micah 5:2.

V. 2. Judah-Not the person, but the tribe of Judah. Prevailed-Excelled the other tribes, especially in the following privilege.

Verse 2. And of him came the chief ruler] This is, by both the Syriac and Arabic, understood of Christ: “From Judah the King Messiah shall proceed.” The Chaldee paraphrases the verse thus: “Seeing Judah prevailed over his brethren, so the kingdom was taken from Reuben and given to Judah; and because he was strong, so was his kingdom. Levi also was godly, and did not transgress in the matter of the golden calf; therefore the high priesthood was taken away from the children of Reuben, and on their account from all the first-born, and given to Aaron and his sons. The custody of the sanctuary belonged to the Levites, but the birthright to Joseph.”-T.

Verse 2. For Judah — Not the person, (for in person Joseph prevailed,) but the tribe of Judah. Prevailed — Excelled the other tribes, especially in the following privilege. And of him — Rather, For of him, as the Hebrew w, vau, is often used: this being a reason of the foregoing assertion, or declaration, showing wherein he did prevail. Came the chief ruler — The government was, by God’s promise and appointment, to be seated chiefly and most durably in that tribe, first in David and his successors, and then in the Messiah, who sprang out of Judah, (Hebrews 7:14,) which was a far greater privilege than the birthright. But, or although, the birthright was Joseph’s — So this prevents or removes an objection to Judah’s precedency taken from the birthright.

1, 2. — His birthright was given unto… Joseph — This might be readily inferred from the censure of Reuben in Genesis 49:4, compared with the ample blessings pronounced on Joseph, (Genesis 49:22-26,) and the paternal gift of the “one portion above his brethren,” recorded Genesis 48:22; but the transfer of Reuben’s birthright to Joseph is nowhere else expressly recorded. The birthright of the firstborn entitled its possessor to a double portion of the inheritance, (Deuteronomy 21:17,) and Joseph’s rights in this regard were conceded in the allotment of Canaan by his receiving the large territory assigned to Ephraim and Manasseh, the latter receiving two portions, one east and the other west of the Jordan. The genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birth-right — Joseph’s honour in receiving the birthright did not, however, yield him the noblest genealogy, for in this respect Judah prevailed above his brethren, and was honoured in being the father of a line of kings the most celebrated in human history. Of him came the chief ruler — The princely David, and the magnificent Solomon, and their descendants who reigned at Jerusalem, while dynasty after dynasty rose and fell in the kingdom of Israel, and also in Egypt, Assyria, and Babylonia. The chief ruler here doubtless refers particularly to David, but may also point to the prince Messiah, that greatest “ruler in Israel,” who came from “among the thousands of Judah.” Micah 5:2.

Verse 6. Beerah his son] After their separation from the house of David the ten tribes continued to have princes of the tribes; and this continued till the time that Tiglath-pileser carried them captives into Assyria. At that time Beerah was their prince or chief; and with him this species of dominion or precedency terminated. According to the Targum, Beerah was the same as Baruch the prophet.

6. Tilgath-pilneser — A corrupt orthography, probably by careless copyists, of Tiglath-pileser. See on 2 Kings 15:29.

Verses 7, 8. And his brethren — The other sons of Reuben, and their posterity. Were the chief — Hebrew, the head: each was the head of his family. Who dwelt in Aroer, even, &c. — Namely, the Reubenites, all those here before mentioned, as appears, both by the following verses, which relate to the whole tribe, and by the agreement of this description of their inheritance with that Joshua 13:15, 16.

Verse 8. Who dwelt in Aroer] This town was situated on the river Arnon; and Nebo was both a city and a mountain in the same country. They both lay on the other side of Jordan.

Verses 7, 8. And his brethren — The other sons of Reuben, and their posterity. Were the chief — Hebrew, the head: each was the head of his family. Who dwelt in Aroer, even, &c. — Namely, the Reubenites, all those here before mentioned, as appears, both by the following verses, which relate to the whole tribe, and by the agreement of this description of their inheritance with that Joshua 13:15, 16.

V. 9. Euphrates-From Jordan and the wilderness beyond it unto Euphrates. Or, of the wilderness, which lies towards or reacheth to the river Euphrates, namely, the great wilderness of Kedemoth, Deuteronomy 2:26, which was extended far and wide towards Euphrates: for that was the eastern border of Reuben’s possession, and not Euphrates, to which their habitation never reached. Multiplied-Which forced them to enlarge their habitation as far as they could towards Euphrates.

Verse 9. And eastward he inhabited — That is, the tribe of Reuben. Unto the entering in of the wilderness, &c. — From Jordan and the wilderness, beyond it unto Euphrates. Or, of the wilderness, which lies toward, or reacheth to the river Euphrates — Namely, the great wilderness of Kedemoth, (Deuteronomy 2:26,) which was extended far and wide toward Euphrates: for that was the eastern border of Reuben’s possession, and not Euphrates, to which their habitation never reached. Because their cattle were multiplied — Which forced them to enlarge their habitation as far as they could toward Euphrates.

9. Unto the entering in of the wilderness — That is, the Reubenites spread eastward from their original territory beyond Jordan, and occupied the borders of the great Arabian and Syrian deserts that extend between the uplands just east of the Jordan and the great river Euphrates.

V. 10. They made war-Thus God did for his people, as he promised them. He cast out the enemy from before them by little and little, and gave them their land as they had occasion for it.

Verse 10. And they dwelt in their tents] The Hagarites were tribes of Nomade, or Scenite, Arabs; people who lived in tents, without any fixed dwellings, and whose property consisted in cattle. The descendants of Reuben extirpated these Hagarites, seized on their property and their tents, and dwelt in their place.

Verse 10. In the days of Saul they made war — The Gadites and Manassites joining with them in the war, verses 18, 19. With the Hagarites — The Ishmaelites who dwelt in Arabia Deserta. They dwelt in their tents — The Israelites took possession of their lands, and tents or houses, which lay eastward from the land of Gilead. Thus God fulfilled his promise to his people: he cast out the enemy from before them by little and little, and gave them their land as they had occasion for it.

10. The Hagarites — The same as the Ishmaelites, who were all descended from Hagar, Sarah’s Egyptian hand-maid, and were scattered over the vast deserts between Egypt and Assyria. See on Genesis 25:12-18. In this Hagarite war, the Reubenites were assisted by the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh. See verses 18-22.

Verse 12. Joel the chief] “Joel, prince of the Sanhedrin; and Shapham, master of the college; and Jaanai and Shaphat, judges in Mathnan.”-T.

Verse 12. Joel the chief — The prince of the tribe, or, at least, of the family, when they were numbered, namely, in the days of Jotham, verse 17. In Bashan — That is, either who dwelt in the city of Bashan, or who abode in Bashan to defend the city and country, when their brethren went out to war against the Hagarenes, verse 19.

Verse 13. And their brethren] This verse is wanting both in the Syriac and in the Arabic.

V. 14. These-These seven last named.

Verses 14, 15. These are the children of Abihail — These seven last named. Ahi, chief of the house of their fathers — Ahi was the head or chief of the houses or families of those seven named verse 13.

Verses 14, 15. These are the children of Abihail — These seven last named. Ahi, chief of the house of their fathers — Ahi was the head or chief of the houses or families of those seven named verse 13.

Verse 16. The suburbs of Sharon] There were three places of this name: that mentioned here was a district in the country of Bashan beyond Jordan, (see Joshua 12:18;) there was another that lay between Cæsarea of Palestine and Joppa; and there was a third between Mount Tabor and the Sea of Tiberias. See Calmet.

Verse 16. They dwelt in Gilead — That is, the children or tribe of Gad inhabited a part of Gilead, the Reubenites and Manassites dwelling in other parts of it, Deuteronomy 3:12. In Bashan — In the land of Bashan, as is said, verse 11. And in her towns — In some of her cities and towns. In all the suburbs of Sharon — Not that Sharon in Canaan, but that to the east of Jordan, namely, in the fields and pasture-grounds of it. Upon their borders — The borders of Gilead and Bashan. For Gilead, properly so called, or the greatest part of it, belonged to the Reubenites, and the greatest part of Bashan to the Manassites; and the Gadites, whose habitation was between these two tribes, had those parts of both these countries which lay toward their borders.

Verse 17. In the days of Jotham king of Judah — Who, reigning long, partly in his father’s days, and partly by himself, and being at leisure from wars and troubles, thought this a fit season to examine the state of his people. And in the days of Jeroboam — Probably Jeroboam the second, of whom see 2 Kings 13:13, 14. This does not imply that Jotham and Jeroboam reigned at the same time; but only that in their several reigns this account was taken.

Verses 18-20. The sons of Reuben, &c. — These three tribes, or at least so many of them as made a great army, joined their forces together, consisting of their best soldiers, to invade the country of the Hagarites. They were helped against them — Against the Hagarites, who, it seems, fought stoutly; but God assisted the Israelites, enduing them with extraordinary courage and success, in consequence of their crying to him, and putting their trust in him, in his power, mercy, and faithfulness to his promise.

Verse 19. They made war with the Hagarites] This is probably the same war that is mentioned 1 Chronicles 5:10. Those called Hagarites in the text are everywhere denominated by the Targum yyargnwh Hongaraai, Hongarites.

Verses 18-20. The sons of Reuben, &c. — These three tribes, or at least so many of them as made a great army, joined their forces together, consisting of their best soldiers, to invade the country of the Hagarites. They were helped against them — Against the Hagarites, who, it seems, fought stoutly; but God assisted the Israelites, enduing them with extraordinary courage and success, in consequence of their crying to him, and putting their trust in him, in his power, mercy, and faithfulness to his promise.

Verse 19. The Hagarites, that is, the Ishmaelites, who descended from Hagar’s son.

19. Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab — These seem to have been clans of Hagarites, corresponding with the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh among the Israelites. Jetur and Nephish are named in the genealogy of 1 Chronicles 1:29-31, and of Genesis 25:13-15.

V. 20. Helped-By God, ver. 22, who gave them extraordinary courage and success.

Verse 20. They put their trust in him.] Or, as the Targum says, “Because they trusted hyrmymb bemeymriah, in his WORD.”

Verses 18-20. The sons of Reuben, &c. — These three tribes, or at least so many of them as made a great army, joined their forces together, consisting of their best soldiers, to invade the country of the Hagarites. They were helped against them — Against the Hagarites, who, it seems, fought stoutly; but God assisted the Israelites, enduing them with extraordinary courage and success, in consequence of their crying to him, and putting their trust in him, in his power, mercy, and faithfulness to his promise.

Verse 21. They took away their cattle] This was a war of extermination as to the political state of the people, which nothing could justify but an especial direction of God; and this he could never give against any, unless the cup of their iniquity had been full. The Hagarites were full of idolatry: see 1 Chronicles 5:25.

Verse 21. Of their camels fifty thousand — For camels were very numerous in Arabia, being used in war and for burdens, &c., and being very patient of thirst, and therefore most fit for those hot and dry countries. Of men a hundred thousand — Whom they took prisoners, and either used as slaves, or sold them for such.

Ver. 21. Fifty thousand. The LXX read, five thousand. The ancient way of numbering by letters, instead of figures, occasioned these variations.

21. Camels fifty thousand — The booty taken in this war seems almost incredible; but when we compare the immense wealth in flocks and herds of a single Bedouin chief like Job, (Job 1:3,) or Mesha, (2 Kings 3:4,) we have reason to believe that the numbers here given are not erroneous.

V. 22. Was of God-Undertaken in his fear, and carried on in a dependence on him. Then we may expect to prosper in any enterprize, and then only, when we take God along with us.

Verse 22. For there fell down many slain] The hundred thousand men mentioned above were probably made slaves, and were not slain. The Targum says, one hundred thousand souls of men.

The war was of God.] The Targum says, the war was דיי armym מנ min meymera dayai, “from the WORD of the Lord.”

Verse 22. For there fell down many slain — Besides those taken captive, a great number were slain in the battle. Because the war was of God — Undertaken in his fear, and carried on in a dependance on him. Then we may expect to prosper in any enterprise, and then only, when we take God along with us. And they dwelt in their steads — Most or all of those valiant men who were engaged in this war, who were forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty, (verse 18,) settled themselves in the country which they had conquered, and remained there until the captivity, of which see 2 Kings 15:29, and 17:6.

Ver. 22. The war of God. Great things in scripture are said to be of God; as the mount of God, the cedars of God, or a battle gained by the special providence of God. The two tribes and a half beyond the Jordan, though separated from the house of David, were prospered more than those tribes under the kingdom of Samaria, until they became equally apostate.

Verse 23. The half-tribe of Manasseh — Having spoken of the Reubenites, (verses 3-10,) and next of the Gadites, (verse 11, &c.,) he now comes to the Manassites. Dwelt in the land — In the same country with the Reubenites and Gadites, on the other side of Jordan, namely, in the northern part of that land.

Ver. 23. Baal-hermon and Senir. See the note on Psalm 133.

Verse 25. The gods of the people of the land] We see the reason why God delivered the Hagarites into the hands of these tribes; they were abominable idolaters, and therefore God destroyed them.

Verse 25. They transgressed against the God of their fathers — Had they kept close to God and their duty, they would have continued to enjoy both their ancient lot and their new conquests; but lying upon the borders, and conversing with the neighbouring nations, they learned their idolatrous usages, and transmitted the infection to the other tribes: and for this God had a controversy with them.

25. They transgressed — Being more widely scattered and Bedouin-like in their habits than the western tribes, these eastern Israelites fell into idolatry sooner than the western tribes, and fell more rapidly, and were accordingly the first to suffer exile.

Verse 26. Tilgath-pilneser] Many MSS. have tlgt Tiglath instead of tglt Tilgath. The Syriac, the Septuagint, and the Chaldee, have the same reading as in 2 Kings 15:29, &c.

Brought them unto Halah] See the notes on the parallel places marked in the margin, for many particulars of these wars, and consequent captivity. It is a pity that some method were not found out to harmonize the books of Kings with the books of Chronicles, that the variations might be seen at one view.

I CHRONICLES

Verse 26. The God of Israel — Who had been a husband to Israel, and whose jealousy burned like fire, when Israel went a whoring after other gods. Stirred up the spirit of Pul, king of Assyria, &c. — That is, so governed his counsels and affections, that he brought his forces against this people rather than others. God served his own purposes by the designs of those ambitious monarchs, employed them first to chastise those revolters, and when that did not reduce them, wholly to root them out. These tribes were first placed, and they were first displaced. They would have the best land, not considering that it lay most exposed. They who are governed more by sense than by reason or faith in their inclinations and choices, may expect to fare accordingly.

26. Pul — See on 2 Kings 15:19, 20. Carried… away — That is, the latter, Tilgath-pilneser, carried them away. According to the account in Kings, Pul was hired by Menahem to withdraw his forces and confirm him in the kingdom, but it is not impossible that on his return through the eastern deserts he also carried off a number of exiles from the exposed eastern tribes. On Halah… Habor… Gozan, see 2 Kings 17:6, note. Hara is mentioned only here. Some think it is the same as Haran, mentioned in Genesis 2:31, and 2 Kings 19:12. Others regard it as the Aramaic form for rh, mountain, and refer it to some mountainous tract near Gozan.