1 Chronicles 5

1 Now the sons of Ruben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was his firstborn: but forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his first birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, and he was not accounted for the firstborn.

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 he had defiled his father's bed. That is why Reuben is not listed in the genealogy according to birthright,

2 But of the race of Juda, who was the strongest among his brethren, came the princes: but the first birthright was accounted to Joseph.)

and even though Judah became the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the birthright belonged to Joseph.)

3 The sons then of Ruben the firstborn of Israel were Enoch, and Phallu, Esron, and Charmi.

The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

4 The sons of Joel: Samaia his son, Gog his son, Semei his son,

The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,

5 Micha his son, Reia his son, Baal his son,

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

6 Beera his son, whom Thelgathphalnasar king of the Assyrians carried away captive, and he was prince in the tribe of Ruben.

and Beerah his son, the one whom Tiglath-Pileser the king of Assyria took into exile. He (Beerah) was a leader of the Reubenites.

7 And his brethren, and all his kindred, when they were numbered by their families, had for princes Jehiel, and Zacharias.

Beerah's relatives are, listed in their genealogical records by family: Jeiel (chief), Zechariah,

8 And Bala the son of Azaz, the son of Samma, the son of Joel, dwelt in Aroer as far as Nebo, and Beelmeon.

and Bela of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel. They lived from Aroer to Nebo and Baal Meon.

9 And eastward he had his habitation as far as the entrance of the desert, and the river Euphrates. For they possessed a great number of cattle in the land of Galaad.

On the eastern side they expanded into the land right up to the edge of the desert that continues to the Euphrates River, because their flocks had grown so big in Gilead.

10 And in the days of Saul they fought against the Agarites, and slew them, and dwelt in their tents in their stead, in all the country, that looketh to the east of Galaad.

In the time of Saul they went to war against the Hagrites, defeating them. They took over the places where the Hagrites had lived in all the regions east of Gilead.

11 And the children of Gad dwelt over against them in the land of Basan, as far as Selcha:

Next to them the descendants of Gad lived in Basha, all the way to Salecah.

12 Johel the chief, and Saphan the second: and Janai, and Saphat in Basan.

Joel (chief), Shapham (second), and Janai and Shaphat, in Bashan.

13 And their brethren according to the houses of their kindreds, were Michael, and Mosollam, and Sebe, and Jorai, and Jacan, and Zie, and Heber, seven.

Their relatives, according to family, were: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber—a total of seven.

14 These were the sons of Abihail, the son of Hurl, the son of Jara, the son of Galaad, the son of Michael, the son of Jesisi, the son of Jeddo, the son of But.

These were the sons of Abihail, son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz.

15 And their brethren the sons of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of the house in their families,

Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was their family chief.

16 And they dwelt in Galaad, and in Basan and in the towns thereof, and in all the suburbs of Saron, unto the borders.

They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its towns, and throughout the pasturelands of Sharon all the way to their borders.

17 All these were numbered in the days of Joathan king of Juda, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

They were all were recorded in the genealogy during the time of Jotham king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel.

18 The sons of Ruben, and of Gad, and of the half tribe of Manasses, fighting men, bearing shields, and swords, and bending the bow, and trained up to battles, four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore that went out to war.

The tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 battle-ready strong warriors capable of using shields and swords and bows.

19 They fought against the Agarites: but the Itureans, and Naphis, and Nodab,

They went to war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab.

20 Gave them help. And the Agarites were delivered into their hands, and all that were with them, because they called upon God in the battle: and he heard them, because they had put their faith in him.

They received help in fighting these enemies because they called out to God during the battles. In this way they were able to defeat the Hagrites and all who were with them. God answered their prayers because they trusted in him.

21 And they took all that they possessed, of camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men a hundred thousand souls.

They captured their enemies' livestock—fifty thousand camels, two hundred fifty thousand sheep, and two thousand donkeys. They also captured one hundred thousand people,

22 And many fell down slain: for it was the battle of the Lord. And they dwelt in their stead till the captivity.

and many others were killed because the battle belonged to God. They took over the land and lived there until the exile.

23 And the children of the half tribe of Manasses possessed the land, from the borders of Basan unto Baal, Hermon, and Sanir, and mount Hermon, for their number was great.

The half-tribe of Manasseh had grown very large. They lived in the land from Bashan to Baal Hermon, (otherwise known as Senir and Mount Hermon).

24 And these were the heads of the house of their kindred, Epher, and Jesi, and Eliel, and Esriel, and Jeremia, and Odoia, and Jediel, most valiant and powerful men, and famous chiefs in their families.

These were the family heads: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were strong warriors, famous men, heads of their families.

25 But they forsook the God of their fathers, and went astray after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.

But they were unfaithful to the God of their forefathers. They prostituted themselves by following the gods of the peoples of the land, those that God had destroyed before them.

26 And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Phul king of the Assyrians, and the spirit of Thelgathphalnasar king of Assur: and he carried away Ruben, and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasses, and brought them to Lahela, and to Habor, and to Ara, and to the river of Gozan, unto this day.

So the God of Israel encouraged of Pul, king of Assyria, (otherwise known as Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), to invade the land. He took into exile the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh. He brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to this very day.