Advanced Commentary

(ex.: John 3:14-18)

Table of Contents Bible Dictionary
Arts
Questions
Resources/Books

Context
5:1 The sons <01121> of Reuben <07205>, Israel’s <03478> firstborn <01060>– (Now he <01931> was the firstborn <01060>, but when he defiled <02490> his father’s <01> bed <03326>, his rights <01062> as firstborn <01062> were given <05414> to the sons <01121> of Joseph <03130>, Israel’s <03478> son <01121>. So Reuben is not <03808> listed <03187> as firstborn <01062> in the genealogical records <03187>. 5:2 Though <03588> Judah <03063> was the strongest <01396> among his brothers <0251> and a leader <05057> descended from <04480> him, the right of the firstborn <01062> belonged to Joseph <03130>.) 5:3 The sons <01121> of Reuben <07205>, Israel’s <03478> firstborn <01060>: Hanoch <02585>, Pallu <06396>, Hezron <02696>, and Carmi <03756>. 5:4 The descendants <01121> of Joel <03100>: His son <01121> Shemaiah <08098>, his son <01121> Gog <01463>, his son <01121> Shimei <08096>, 5:5 his son <01121> Micah <04318>, his son <01121> Reaiah <07211>, his son <01121> Baal <01168>, 5:6 and his son <01121> Beerah <0880>, whom <0834> King <04428> Tiglath-pileser <08407> of Assyria <0804> carried into exile <01540>. Beerah was the tribal leader <05387> of Reuben <07206>. 5:7 His brothers <0251> by their clans <04940>, as listed in their genealogical records <08435> <03187>: The leader <07218> Jeiel <03273>, Zechariah <02148>, 5:8 and Bela <01106> son <01121> of Azaz <05811>, son <01121> of Shema <08087>, son <01121> of Joel <03100>. They <01931> lived <03427> in Aroer <06177> as far as <05704> Nebo <05015> and Baal Meon <01186>. 5:9 In the east <04217> they settled <03427> as far <05704> as the entrance <0935> to the desert <04057> that stretches to <04480> the Euphrates <06578> River <05104>, for <03588> their cattle <04735> had increased <07235> in numbers in the land <0776> of Gilead <01568>. 5:10 During the time <03117> of Saul <07586> they attacked <04421> <06213> the Hagrites <01905> and defeated <05307> them. They took over <03427> their territory <0168> in <05921> the entire <03605> eastern <04217> region of Gilead <01568>. 5:11 The descendants <01121> of Gad <01410> lived <03427> near <05048> them in the land <0776> of Bashan <01316>, as far <05704> as Salecah <05548>. 5:12 They included Joel <03100> the leader <07218>, Shapham <08223> the second <04932> in command, Janai <03285>, and Shaphat <08202> in Bashan <01316>. 5:13 Their relatives <0251>, listed according to their families <01> <01004>, included Michael <04317>, Meshullam <04918>, Sheba <07652>, Jorai <03140>, Jacan <03275>, Zia <02127>, and Eber <05677>– seven <07651> in all. 5:14 These <0428> were the sons <01121> of Abihail <032> son <01121> of Huri <02359>, son <01121> of Jaroah <03386>, son <01121> of Gilead <01568>, son <01121> of Michael <04317>, son <01121> of Jeshishai <03454>, son <01121> of Jahdo <03163>, son <01121> of Buz <0938>. 5:15 Ahi <0277> son <01121> of Abdiel <05661>, son <01121> of Guni <01476>, was the leader <07218> of the family <01> <01004>. 5:16 They lived <03427> in Gilead <01568>, in Bashan <01316> and its surrounding <01323> settlements, and in the pasturelands <04054> of Sharon <08289> to <05921> their very borders <08444>. 5:17 All <03605> of them were listed in the genealogical records <03187> in the time <03117> of King <04428> Jotham <03147> of Judah <03063> and in the time <03117> of King <04428> Jeroboam <03379> of Israel <03478>. 5:18 The Reubenites <07205> <01121>, Gadites <01425>, and the half-tribe <07626> <02677> of Manasseh <04519> had 44,760 <08346> <03967> <07651> <0505> <0702> <0705> men <0582> in <04480> their combined armies, warriors <02428> <01121> who carried <05375> shields <04043> and swords <02719>, were equipped <01869> with bows <07198>, and were trained <03925> for war <04421>. 5:19 They attacked <04421> <06213> the Hagrites <01905>, Jetur <03195>, Naphish <05305>, and Nodab <05114>.

• 1Ch 5:1-10 -- Reuben's Descendants
• 1Ch 5:11-22 -- Gad's Descendants

• Israel

  [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...
  

• Hagarene

  [ebd] or Hagarite. (1.) One of David's mighty men (1 Chr. 11:38), the son of a foreigner. (2.) Used of Jaziz (1 Chr. 27:31), who was over David's flocks. "A Hagarite had charge of David's flocks, and an Ishmaelite of his herds, be...
  

• Genealogy

  [nave] GENEALOGY, Num. 1:18; 2 Chr. 12:15; Ezra 2:59; Neh. 7:5; Heb. 7:3. Of no spiritual significance, Matt. 3:9; 1 Tim. 1:4; Tit. 3:9. From Adam to Noah, Gen. 4:16-22; 5; 1 Chr. 1:1-4; Luke 3:36-38; to Abraham, Gen. 11:10-32; ...
  

• GENEALOGY, 8 part 2

  [isbe] GENEALOGY, 8 part 2 - I. Primeval Genealogies (1 Chronicals 1:1-54). To show Israel's place among the nations; follows Genesis closely, omitting only the Cainites; boldly, skillfully compressed, as if the omitted facts were ...
  

• Jacob

  [nave] JACOB Son of Isaac, and twin brother of Esau, Gen. 25:24-26; Josh. 24:4; 1 Chr. 1:34; Acts 7:8. Ancestor of Jesus, Matt. 1:2. Given in answer to prayer, Gen. 25:21. Obtains Esau's birthright for a some stew, Gen. 25:29-34...
  

• Music

  [ebd] Jubal was the inventor of musical instruments (Gen. 4:21). The Hebrews were much given to the cultivation of music. Their whole history and literature afford abundant evidence of this. After the Deluge, the first mention of ...
  

• Polygamy

  [nave] POLYGAMY Forbidden, Deut. 17:17; Lev. 18:18; Mal. 2:14, 15; Matt. 19:4, 5; Mark 10:2-8; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Tit. 1:6. Authorized, 2 Sam. 12:8. Tolerated, Ex. 21:10; 1 Sam. 1:2; 2 Chr. 24:3. Practiced, Job 27:15; by Lamech, Ge...
  

• Gad

  [ebd] fortune; luck. (1.) Jacob's seventh son, by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, and the brother of Asher (Gen. 30:11-13; 46:16, 18). In the Authorized Version of 30:11 the words, "A troop cometh: and she called," etc., should rather be...
  [nave] GAD 1. Jacob's seventh son, Gen. 30:11; 35:26; Ex. 1:4. Children of, Gen. 46:16; Num. 26:15-18; 1 Chr. 5:11. Prophecy concerning, Gen. 49:19. 2. A tribe of Israel. Blessed by Moses, Deut. 33:20. Enumeration of, at Sinai,...
  

• Reuben

  [isbe] REUBEN - roo'-ben, ru'-ben (re'ubhen; Rhouben): The eldest son of Jacob, born to him by Leah in Paddan-aram (Gen 29:32). 1. Jacob's Oldest Son: This verse seems to suggest two derivations of the name. As it stands in Massore...
  [smith] (behold a son), Jacob?s firstborn Child, (Genesis 29:32) the son of Leah. (B.C. 1753.) The notices of the patriarch Reuben give, on the whole a favorable view of his disposition. To him and him alone the preservation of Josep...
  [nave] REUBEN Son of Jacob, Gen. 29:32; 1 Chr. 2:1. Brings mandrakes to his mother, Gen. 30:14. Commits incest with one of his father's concubines, and, in consequence, forfeits the birthright, Gen. 35:22; 49:4; 1 Chr. 5:1. Adro...
  

• Shapham

  [isbe] SHAPHAM - sha'-fam (shapham; Sapham, Sabat): Name of a Gadite chief, who had the second place in command of his tribe (1 Ch 5:12). So far as the fragmentary genealogies are intelligible, they seem to indicate that Shapham an...
  [smith] (bold), a Gadite of Bashan. (1 Chronicles 5:12) (B.C. 750.)
  [nave] SHAPHAM, chief of Gad, 1 Chr. 5:12.
  

• Joel

  [ebd] Jehovah is his God. (1.) The oldest of Samuel's two sons appointed by him as judges in Beersheba (1 Sam. 8:2). (See VASHNI.) (2.) A descendant of Reuben (1 Chr. 5:4,8). (3.) One of David's famous warriors (1 Chr. 11:38). (4....
  [smith] (to whom Jehovah is God). Eldest son of Samuel the prophet, (1 Samuel 8:2; 1 Chronicles 6:33; 15:17) and father of Heman the singer. (B.C. 1094.) In (1 Chronicles 6:36) Authorized Version, Joel seems to be merely a ...
  [nave] JOEL 1. Son of Samuel, 1 Sam. 8:2; 1 Chr. 6:33; 15:17. Called Vashni, 1 Chr. 6:28. 2. A Simeonite, 1 Chr. 4:35. 3. A Reubenite, 1 Chr. 5:4, 8. 4. A Gadite, 1 Chr. 5:12. 5. A Kohathite Levite, 1 Chr. 6:36. 6. Descendant...
  

• Michael

  [ebd] who is like God? (1.) The title given to one of the chief angels (Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1). He had special charge of Israel as a nation. He disputed with Satan (Jude 1:9) about the body of Moses. He is also represented as warni...
  [isbe] MICHAEL - mi'-ka-el, mi'-kel (mikha'el, "who is like God?" Michael): (1) The father of Sethur the Asherite spy (Nu 13:13). (2) (3) Two Gadites (1 Ch 5:13,14). (4) A name in the genealogy of Asaph (1 Ch 6:40 (Hebrew 25)). (5)...
  [smith] (who is like God?). An Asherite, father of Sethur, one of the twelve spies. (Numbers 13:13) One of the Gadites who settled in the land of Bashan. (1 Chronicles 5:13) Another Gadite, ancestor of Abihail. (1 Chronicles 5...
  [nave] MICHAEL 1. An Asherite, Num. 13:13. 2. Two Gadites, 1 Chr. 5:13, 14. 3. A Gershonite Levite, 1 Chr. 6:40. 4. A descendant of Issachar, 1 Chr. 7:3. 5. A Benjamite, 1 Chr. 8:16. 6. A captain of the thousands of Manasseh w...
  

• Abdiel

  [ebd] servant of God, (1 Chr. 5:15), a Gadite chief.
  [isbe] ABDIEL - ab'-di-el (`abhdi'el, "servant of God"): A Gadite who lived in Gilead or in Bashan, and whose name was reckoned in genealogies of the time of Jotham, king of Judah, or of Jeroboam II, king of Israel (1 Ch 5:15-17).
  [smith] (the servant of God), son of Guni and father of Ahi, one of the Gadites who were settled in the land of Bashan, (1 Chronicles 5:15), in the days of Jotham king of Judah. (B.C. 758.)
  [nave] ABDIEL, a Gadite, 1 Chr. 5:15.
  

• Shemaiah

  [isbe] SHEMAIAH - she-ma'-ya, she-mi'-a (shema`yah (in 2 Ch 11:2; 17:8; 31:15; 35:9; Jer 26:20; 29:24; 36:12, shema`yahu), "Jahveh hears"): The name is most frequently borne by priests, Levites and prophets. (1) Codex Vaticanus Sam...
  [smith] (heard by Jehovah). A prophet in the reign of Rehoboam. (1 Kings 12:22; 2 Chronicles 11:2) (B.C. 972.) He wrote a chronicle containing the events of Rehoboam?s reign. (2 Chronicles 12:5,15) The son of Shechaniah, am...
  [nave] SHEMAIAH 1. A prophet in the time of Rehoboam. Prevents Rehoboam from war with Jeroboam, 1 Kin. 12:22-24; 2 Chr. 11:2-4. Prophesies the punishment of Rehoboam by Shishak, king of Egypt, 2 Chr. 12:5, 7. Writes chronicles, 2...
  

• Gilead

  [nave] GILEAD 1. A region E. of the Jordan allotted to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half tribe of Manasseh, Num. 32:1-30; Deut. 3:13; 34:1; 2 Kin. 10:33. Reubenites expel the Hagarites from, 1 Chr. 5:9, 10, 18-22. Ammonites m...
  

• Jeroboam

  [ebd] increase of the people. (1.) The son of Nebat (1 Kings 11:26-39), "an Ephrathite," the first king of the ten tribes, over whom he reigned twenty-two years (B.C. 976-945). He was the son of a widow of Zereda, and while still ...
  [smith] (whose people are many). The first king of the divided kingdom of Israel, B.C. 975-954, was the son of an Ephraimite of the name of Nebat. He was raised by Solomon to the rank of superintendent over the taxes and labors exac...
  [nave] JEROBOAM: 1. First king of Israel after the revolt. Promoted by Solomon, 1 Kin. 11:28. Ahijah's prophecy concerning, 1 Kin. 11:29-39; 14:5-16. Flees to Egypt to escape from Solomon, 1 Kin. 11:26-40. Recalled from Egypt by...
  

• Birthright

  [ebd] (1.) This word denotes the special privileges and advantages belonging to the first-born son among the Jews. He became the priest of the family. Thus Reuben was the first-born of the patriarchs, and so the priesthood of the ...
  [isbe] BIRTHRIGHT - burth'-rit (bekhorah, from bekhor, "firstborn"; prototokia): Birthright is the right which naturally belonged to the firstborn son. Where there were more wives than one, the firstborn was the son who in point of...
  [nave] BIRTHRIGHT Belonged to the firstborn, Deut. 21:15, 16. Entitled the firstborn to a double portion of inheritance, Deut. 21:15-17; royal succession, 2 Chr. 21:3. An honorable title, Ex. 4:22; Psa. 89:27; Jer. 31:9; Rom. 8:2...
  

• Gog

  [ebd] (1.) A Reubenite (1 Chr. 5:4), the father of Shimei. (2.) The name of the leader of the hostile party described in Ezek. 38,39, as coming from the "north country" and assailing the people of Israel to their own destruction. ...
  [isbe] GOG - gog (gogh; Goug): (1) A son of Joel, and descendant of the tribe of Reuben (1 Ch 5:4). (2) The prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal (Ezek 38:2 f; 39:1-16). His territory was known as the land of Magog, and he was the chie...
  [smith] (mountain). A Reubenite, (1 Chronicles 5:4) son of Shemaiah.
  [nave] GOG 1. A Reubenite, 1 Chr. 5:4. 2. A Scythian prince. Prophecy against, Ezek. 38; 39; Rev. 20:8.
  

• Shema

  [ebd] rumour. (1.) A Reubenite (1 Chr. 5:8). (2.) A Benjamite (1 Chr. 8:13). (3.) One who stood by Ezra when he read the law (Neh. 8:4). (4.) A town in the south of Judah (Josh. 15:26); the same as Sheba (ver. 5).
  [smith] A Reubenite, ancestor of Bela. (1 Chronicles 5:8) (B.C. before 1090.) Son of Elpaal. (1 Chronicles 8:13) Probably the same as Shimhi. (B.C. after 1450.) One of those who stood at Ezra?s right hand when he read the law ...
  [nave] SHEMA 1. A city of Judah, Josh. 15:26. 2. A son of Hebron, 1 Chr. 2:43, 44. 3. Son of Joel, 1 Chr. 5:8. Called Shemaiah, 1 Chr. 5:4. 4. A Benjamite, 1 Chr. 8:13. 5. A man who stood at the right hand of Ezra when he read...
  

• GILEAD (1)

  [isbe] GILEAD (1) - gil'-e-ad (ha-gil`adh, "the Gilead"): The name is explained in Gen 31:46 ff,51, as derived from Hebrew gal, "a cairn," and `edh, "witness," agreeing in meaning with the Aramaic yegharsahadhutha'. The Arabic jile...
  

• Samuel, Kings, Chronicles: Genealogies

  

• What is the significance of firstborn in the Bible?
  I'm going to copy some articles on this subject, but let me give you my summation of all of them. In the Old Testament, the firstborn son was the one who normally received a double inheritance, and was the one who would inher...
• Where did the idea that Jesus is the Rose of Sharon come from?
  This may have developed from those who see the Song of Solomon as a picture of Christ and the church, though this is certainly not the primary purpose of this book and is really a strong typological use the book. Below are co...
• Who Were the Ishmaelites?
  They were descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son, and were divided into twelve tribes (Gen. 25:16; Gen. 16:15,16). They were also called Hagarites, Hagarenes and Arabians (I Chron. 5:10; Psa. 83:6; Isa. 13:20). They were gover...

Back to Commentary Page