Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The genealogies of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh are all listed. While these tribes initially succeed in warfare, they are exiled by Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria on account of their many sins. The descendants of Levi are then listed.
II. Photo
Tiglath-Pileser III, the Assyrian king who ruled from 744–727 BCE, is mentioned by name: “But [the Israelites] trespassed against the God of their fathers by going astray after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel roused the spirit of King Pul of Assyria — the spirit of King Tillegath-pilneser of Assyria — and he carried them away, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this day.” (vv. 25-26)
III. Important Verses
vv. 1-2: The sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel. (He was the first-born; but when he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, so he is not reckoned as first-born in the genealogy; though Judah became more powerful than his brothers and a leader came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph.)
v. 6: his son Beerah — whom King Tillegath-pilneser of Assyria exiled — was chieftain of the Reubenites.
v. 10: And in the days of Saul they made war on the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they occupied their tents throughout all the region east of Gilead.
v. 17: All of them were registered by genealogies in the days of King Jotham of Judah, and in the days of King Jeroboam of Israel.
vv. 18-20: The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had warriors who carried shield and sword, drew the bow, and were experienced at war — 44,760, ready for service. They made war on the Hagrites — Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. They prevailed against them; the Hagrites and all who were with them were delivered into their hands, for they cried to God in the battle, and He responded to their entreaty because they trusted in Him.
vv. 23-26: The members of the half-tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land; they were very numerous from Bashan to Baal-hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. These were the chiefs of their clans: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, men of substance, famous men, chiefs of their clans. But they trespassed against the God of their fathers by going astray after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel roused the spirit of King Pul of Assyria — the spirit of King Tillegath-pilneser of Assyria — and he carried them away, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this day.
IV. Outline
1-10. List of the Reubenites and their conquests
11-17. List of the Gadites
18-22. Transjordanian war with the Hagrites
23-24. List of the half-tribe of Manasseh
25-26. Exile for Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh
27-41. The descendants of Levi (including Aaron, Moses, and Miriam)
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/88/Tilglath_pileser_iii.jpg
