1 Chronicles 5:8

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 5:8

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:1-10

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:7-8

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Chronicles 5:7-8

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

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 5:1-26

The eastern tribes (5:1-26)At the beginning of this section, the writer gives the reason why he listed the genealogy of Judah before that of Reuben, the firstborn. Reuben had lost his rights as the firstborn (see Genesis 35:22), so the ruling power in Israel was given to Judah instead. The firstborn’s double portion of the inheritance went to Joseph, who received two tribes in Israel (Ephraim and Manasseh). The descendants of Reuben, along with those of Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh, dwelt... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Chronicles 5:8

Azaz. Some codices, with four early printed editions, read "Azan", or "Azzan". Aroer . . . Nebo . . . Baal-meon. All east of Dead Sea. See Numbers 32:34 , Numbers 32:38 . Deuteronomy 2:36 . read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Chronicles 5:1-26

3. The families of Transjordan ch. 5Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh settled east of the Jordan River. Reuben would have normally been the son of Jacob through whom the greatest blessing would come since he was the first-born. However, because of his sin (1 Chronicles 5:1), God passed him over. God blessed Joseph with the double portion of the birthright. He did this by elevating Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to equality among Jacob’s other sons, Joseph’s brothers. God’s... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 5:1-26

Genealogies (continued)This chapter gives lists of the descendants of Reuben, the families of Gad, and the families of the eastern division of Manasseh.1. His birthright] This was a portion of the inheritance, twice as great as that given to each of the other sons. The two children of Joseph together received the share which, in right of birth, should have been Reuben’s, each being placed on a level with their uncles, the sons of Jacob: cp. Genesis 48:5. And the genealogy] Joseph, though... read more

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