And his brethren by their families ,.... Either the brethren of Beerah, or the rest of the posterity of Reuben: (when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned;) either in the times of Jotham and Jeroboam, 1 Chronicles 5:17 or at the time of their captivity, as in the preceding verse: were the chief, Jehiel, and Zechariah ; these were the principals or heads of their families. read more
And Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel ,.... The pedigree of Bela, another principal man in the tribe of Reuben, is traced up to Joel the father of Shema; the same with Shemaiah, according to Kimchi and Ben Melech, 1 Chronicles 5:4 who dwelt in Aroer ; which belonged to the tribe of Gad, and was rebuilt by them, Numbers 32:34 wherefore Kimchi observes, it may be interpreted, either from Aroer, or on the border of it, Bela dwelt: even unto Nebo, and Baalmeon ;... read more
And eastward he inhabited ,.... Either Bela, or the tribe of Reuben: unto the entering in of the wilderness ; the wilderness of Kedemoth, which was near to Sihon king of Heshbon, whose land the Reubenites inhabited, Deuteronomy 2:26 . from the river Euphrates ; a learned man F18 Texelii Phoenix, l. 3. c. 7. p. 272. thinks that this river Phrat was different from the Euphrates near Babylon, which was northward, since this was to the east or southeast: because their cattle... read more
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. read more
EXPOSITION THE SONS OF REUBEN . The tribe of Reuben is now taken third in order by the compiler, though Reuben was the first of all the sons of Israel. The distinct statements of 1 Chronicles 5:1 and 1 Chronicles 5:2 , respecting the degradation of Reuben and his loss of the rights of primogeniture, are not to be understood, however, as mentioned in any way to account for his standing third here. That Judah takes in any genealogy the first place needs no other apology than... read more
Of Jeiel, Zechariah, Bela , and Asaz nothing further is known. Shema and Joel may be those of verse 4, as above. The expression, his brethren, i.e. the brethren of Beerah, must be read generally. The intimation, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned , is probably explained by the contents of verse 17 (of which hereafter). Aroer ( עֲרֹעֵר or עְרוֹעֵר ); a place east of the Jordan, overhanging the torrent of Arnon, which was a boundary between Moab and the... read more
Keil and others refer this verse to the people of Bela; yet others apply it to Joel It would seem nearest the facts to apply it to the main subject of the paragraph—Reuben. Gilead ( Deuteronomy 3:12-16 ) had for its boundaries, on the north Bashan, on the south Moab, on the east the Arabian desert. Its situation evidently exposed it to Assyrian invasion and frequent encounter with desert tribes ( Joshua 17:1 ; Numbers 26:29 , Numbers 26:30 ). read more
He inhabited - i. e. Reuben. Eastward the Reubenites inhabited as far as the commencement of the great Syrian Desert, which extended all the way from the river Euphrates to their borders. read more
1 Chronicles 5:7-8. 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. read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:1-17
We have here an extract out of the genealogies, I. Of the tribe of Reuben, where we have, 1. The reason why this tribe is thus postponed. It is confessed that Reuben was the first-born of Israel, and, upon that account, might challenge the precedency; but he forfeited his birthright by defiling his father's concubine, and was, for that, sentenced not to excel, Gen. 49:4. Sin lessens men, thrusts them down from their excellency. Seventh-commandment sins especially leave an indelible stain upon... read more