1 Chronicles 5:18-26

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 5:18

The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh ,.... These all joined together, living together on the one side of Jordan: of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war ; strong able bodied men; and not only able to bear and carry arms, sword in one hand, and shield in another; but were men of valour and courage, and had military skill, and knew how to handle their arms to advantage: were four and forty thousand... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:19

And they made war with the Hagarites ,.... Before mentioned, 1 Chronicles 5:19 . with Jetur, and Nephish : with the posterity of these men, who were sons of Ishmael, Genesis 25:15 and so was Nodab; perhaps the same with Kedemah, mentioned along with the other two there; so Hillerus F26 Onomastic. Sacr. p. 554. thinks. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:20

And they were helped against them ,.... The Israelites were helped against the Ishmaelites, to fight with them, and overcome them; either by their brethren of the house of Israel, as the Targum, those on this side Jordan; or rather by the Lord, to whom they cried, and who was entreated by them as follows: and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them ; they and their confederates and auxiliaries, the Ituraeans, &c.; for they cried to God in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:21

And they took away their cattle ,.... Which they brought with them, and they found in their camp when they fled, or in their fields: of their camels fifty thousand ; with which Arabia abounded, and were fit to travel with in those hot and desert countries, being strong to carry burdens, and able to bear much thirst. The Arabians, as Diodorus Siculus F1 Bibliothec. l. 2. p. 137. & l. 3. p. 178. Vid. Plin. l. 8. c. l8. reports, brought up camels, for almost all the uses of life;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:22

For there fell down many slain ,.... Many were killed in the battle, besides the great number of prisoners made, so that the army the Ishmaelites brought into the field was very great: because the war was of God ; or from the Word of the Lord, as the Targum; he stirred up the Israelites to it, directed, assisted, and succeeded them, that vengeance might be taken on this wicked and idolatrous people: and they dwelt in their stead until the captivity ; the Targum adds, of Sennacherib... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:23

And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land ,.... Not in the land of the Hagarites, but in the land of Gilead and Bashan beyond Jordan, given them by Moses. The writer, having reckoned the genealogies of some of the principal men of Reuben and Gad, proceeds to give a short account of some principal men in this half tribe: they increased from Bashan ; where they first settled, and extended their possessions: unto Baalhermon and Senir, and unto Mount Hermon ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:24

And these were the heads of the house of their fathers ,.... Some of the principal men of this half tribe: even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel ; but of none of these we read elsewhere, excepting Hepher and Azriel, Numbers 26:31 . mighty men of valour, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers ; men that obtained a name for their strength, courage, and valour, and military exploits, and were the chiefs of the families in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:25

And they transgressed against the God their fathers ,.... Against his law, will, word, and ordinances, not only the half tribe of Manasseh, hut the Reubenites and Gadites also: and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them ; that is, committed idolatry, which is spiritual fornication or whoredom; worshipped the idols either of the Amorites, who were destroyed by the Lord to make way for their first settlement; or of the Ishmaelites, whom they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:26

And the God of Israel ,.... The Targum is,"the word of the God of Israel:" stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria : in the times of Menahem king of Israel: and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser ; in the times of Pekah king of Israel, to invade the land, and make war in it: and he carried them away : not the former, but the latter: even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh ; these entirely together, with some other parts of the land, see 2 Kings... read more

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