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Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:18-26

The heads of the half-tribe of Manasseh, that were seated on the other side Jordan, are named here, 1 Chron. 5:23, 24. Their lot, at first, was Bashan only; but afterwards they increased so much in wealth and power that they spread far north, even unto Hermon. Two things only are here recorded concerning these tribes on the other side Jordan, in which they were all concerned. They all shared, I. In a glorious victory over the Hagarites, so the Ishmaelites were now called, to remind them that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:1

Now the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel ,.... Are as follow in 1 Chronicles 5:3 where the account begins; for what comes between this and that is in a parenthesis: for he was the firstborn ; of Jacob by his wife Leah; that must be owned, and Jacob allows it, Genesis 49:3 and yet the genealogy in this book begins not with him, as might on that account be expected; the reason follows: but forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed : by lying with Bilhah his concubine: his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:2

For Judah prevailed above his brethren ,.... That is, the tribe of Judah prevailed above the rest in number, in valour, and courage, and in dignity; wherefore the genealogy is not reckoned according to birthright, but dignity and dominion; hence this genealogical account began with Judah: because of him came the chief ruler ; David and the kings of Judah, his successors; and above all, from him the Prince Messiah was to spring, and did, according to Genesis 49:10 so both the Syriac... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:3

The sons, I say , of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, were, Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. As in Genesis 46:9 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:4-5

The sons of Joel ,.... Who was either the son of Carmi last mentioned, or rather of Hanoch, Reuben's firstborn, since the descendants of him were the princes of the tribe: his posterity in succession were, Shemaiah, Cog, Shimei, Micah, Reaia, Baal, Beerah; of whom we know no more than their names, and by these the descent is carried down to the captivity by Tiglathpileser, as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:6

Beerah his son ,.... The last of Joel's posterity, who, according to the Targum and other Jewish writers F17 Aben Ezra in Hos. i. 1. Pesikta apud Abarbinel. in ib. was a prophet, and the father of Hosea, see Hosea 1:1 but neither the name, title, time, nor tribe, agree: whom Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria carried away captive ; the same with Tiglathpileser by a transposition of letters, 2 Kings 15:29 and is read the same here in the Greek, Syriac, and Arabic versions: he ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:7

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:8

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:9

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

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