1 Chronicles 5

1 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—now Reuben was Israel's firstborn, but his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel because Reuben had defiled his father's couch. So he is not recorded as being the oldest son.

2 For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s: )

Judah was the strongest of his brothers, and the leader would come from him. But the birthright was Joseph's—

3 The sons, I say, of Reuben the firstborn of Israel were, Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel were Hanok, Pallu, Hezron, and Karmi.

4 The sons of Joel; Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,

The descendants of Joel were these: Joel's son was Shemaiah. Shemaiah's son was Gog. Gog's son was Shimei.

5 Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son,

Shimei's son was Micah. Micah's son was Reaiah. Reaiah's son was Baal.

6 Beerah his son, whom Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria carried away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites.

Baal's son was Beerah, whom Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took into exile. Beerah was a leader in the tribe of Reuben.

7 And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,

Beerah's relatives according to their clans, listed according to their genealogical records: Jeiel the leader, Zechariah, and

8 And Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even to Nebo and Baalmeon:

Bela son of Azaz son of Shema son of Joel. They lived in Aroer, as far as Nebo and Baal Meon,

9 And eastward he inhabited to the entrance of the wilderness from the river Euphrates: because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead.

and eastward to the start of the wilderness that extends to the Euphrates River. This was because they had many cattle in the land of Gilead.

10 And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagarites, who fell by their hand: and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the east land of Gilead.

In the days of Saul, the tribe of Reuben attacked the Hagrites and defeated them. They lived in the Hagrites' tents throughout all the land east of Gilead.

11 And the children of Gad dwelt opposite them, in the land of Bashan to Salcah:

The members of the tribe of Gad lived near them, in the land of Bashan as far as Salekah.

12 Joel the chief, and Shapham the next, and Jaanai, and Shaphat in Bashan.

Joel was their leader; Shapham was second; and Janai and Shaphat in Bashan.

13 And their brethren of the house of their fathers were, Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jachan, and Zia, and Heber, seven.

Their relatives, by their fathers' families, were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jakan, Zia, and Eber—seven in all.

14 These are the children of Abihail the 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;

These persons named above were the descendants of Abihail, and Abihail was the son of Huri. Huri was the son of Jaroah. Jaroah was the son of Gilead. Gilead was the son of Michael. Michael was the son of Jeshishai. Jeshishai was the son of Jahdo. Jahdo was the son of Buz.

15 Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of the house of their fathers.

Ahi son of Abdiel son of Guni, was head of their fathers' family.

16 And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan, and in its towns, and in all the common lands of Sharon, upon their borders.

They lived in Gilead, in Bashan, in its towns, and in all the pasturelands of Sharon as far as its borders.

17 All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

All these were listed by genealogical records in the days of Jotham king of Judah and of Jeroboam king of Israel.

18 The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear shield and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and sixty, that went out to the war.

The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 soldiers trained for war, who carried shield and sword, and who drew the bow.

19 And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab.

They attacked the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab.

20 And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was entreated by them; because they put their trust in him.

They received divine help against them. In this way, the Hagrites and all who were with them were defeated. This was because the Israelites cried out to God in the battle, and he responded to them, because they put their trust in him.

21 And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of donkeys two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand.

They captured their animals, including fifty thousand camels, 250,000 sheep, two thousand donkeys, and 100,000 men.

22 For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.

Many fell because the battle was from God. They lived in their land until the captivity.

23 And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land: they increased from Bashan to Baalhermon and Senir, and to mount Hermon.

The half tribe of Manasseh lived in the land of Bashan as far as Baal Hermon and Senir (that is, Mount Hermon).

24 And these were the heads of the house of their fathers, even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valour, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers.

These were the heads of their fathers' houses: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were mighty men, famous men, heads of their fathers' houses.

25 And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and played the harlot with the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.

But they were unfaithful to their ancestors' God. Instead, they worshiped the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.

26 And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, to this day.

The God of Israel stirred up Pul king of Assyria (also called Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria). He took into exile the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh. He brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and to the river of Gozan, where they remain to this day.