Chapters 2–8. The Genealogies of the Tribes of Israel

The Chronicler deals very unequally with the tribes in their genealogies; as the following table shews:

1 Chronicles 2:1 to 1 Chronicles 4:23. Judah (102 verses).

1 Chronicles 4:24-43. Simeon (20 verses).

1 Chronicles 5:1-26. Reuben, Gad, and Eastern Manasseh (26 verses).

1 Chronicles 6:1-81. Levi (81 verses).

1 Chronicles 7:1-40. Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Eastern Manasseh (again), Ephraim, and Asher (40 verses).

1 Chronicles 8:1-40. Benjamin, though already noticed in 1 Chronicles 7:6-11 (40 verses).

Zebulun and (perhaps) Dan (cp. 1 Chronicles 7:12, note) are omitted.

It may easily be seen that the tribes in which the Chronicler is really interested are the three southern tribes, Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, together with the priestly tribe, Levi.

The order in which the tribes are mentioned is at first geographical, Judah and Simeon the southern tribes first, then the eastern tribes Reuben, Gad, Manasseh; the rest follow in no fixed order.

Ch. 1 Chronicles 5:1-10. The Genealogy of Reuben

1. he defiled] Genesis 35:22; Genesis 49:4.

his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph] Cp. Genesis 48:5, “Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon, shall be mine”; words of Jacob which might be interpreted to mean that Reuben and Simeon are to be disinherited, and that Ephraim and Manasseh are to take their places.

the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright] i.e. though the birthright of Reuben has been given to Joseph, yet the genealogy of Joseph is not to be given before that of Reuben. In 1 Chronicles 5:2 it is shewn that Joseph, though possessing the birthright, was excelled by Judah. In this confusion of claims the natural order is followed and the genealogy of Reuben is given first.

2. Judah prevailed above his brethren] Cp. Genesis 49:8 (Jacob to Judah) “Thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.”

the chief ruler] R.V. the prince. The Heb. word is nâgîd, translated “captain” (1 Samuel 13:14, A.V.) and “ruler” (2 Samuel 7:8, A.V.). The prophets seem to prefer this word to melech, “king” as the title of the head of the Israelite state. The immediate reference is to David (Saul being virtually ignored by the Chronicler), but (since David is a typical character) a further reference in the words is possible. The Peshitta (a Judaeo-Christian work) translates, From him shall come forth (acc. to another reading, hath come forth) King Messiah.

3. The sons of Reuben] The same four names (with one unimportant variation in spelling in A.V.) appear Genesis 46:9; Exodus 6:14.

Hanoch] the correct spelling of the familiar name Enoch; cp. 1 Chronicles 1:3.

6. Tilgath-pilneser] called Tiglath-pileser (2 Kings 15:29), and no doubt identical with Pul (ib. 2 Kings 15:19). See F. Hommel in Hastings’ Bible Dict., Assyria, p. 185. The Chronicler is therefore in error in speaking of Pul and Tilgath-pilneser as two persons; cp. 1 Chronicles 5:26.

7. was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel] R.V. was reckoned; the chief; Jeiel.

8. Aroer] now ‘Ar‘âir, a heap of ruins near the wâdy Mojib, i.e. the Arnon (Joshua 12:2). It passed from Sihon king of the Amorites into the hands of the Reubenites at the Conquest (ib. Joshua 13:16). See Bädeker, p. 191.

Nebo and Baal-meon] A line drawn due N. from Aroer (see last note), passes close first to Ma‘in (which may be Baal-meon) and then to Jebel Nebâ, which evidently preserves the name of Mount Nebo.

Baal-meon] called more correctly Beth-baal-meon Joshua 13:17.

10. in the days of Saul] Saul’s great victory over the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11) may have paved the way for the expansion of Israel east of Jordan.

the Hegarites] R.V. the Hagrites as Psalm 83:6 (R.V. mg.). They were an Arab people. Details of the war are given 1 Chronicles 5:18-22.

the east land of Gilead] R.V. the land east of Gilead, i.e. the land between Gilead and the Euphrates (cp. 1 Chronicles 5:9).

11–17. The Genealogy and Settlements of Gad

11. Bashan] the wide district extending from the Jabbok on the S. to Hermon in the N. and from the Sea of Galilee on the W. to the mountains of Hauran on the E. Cp. 1 Chronicles 5:23.

Salchah] R.V. Salecah, is probably represented at the present day by the ruins of Salkhad due S. of the Jebel Hauran and almost due E. of Bostra.

12. the next] R.V. the second. Cp. 2 Kings 25:18.

and Jaanai, and Shaphat] LXX, καὶ Ἰανεὶν ὁ γραμματεύς, “and Janin the scribe”; Targ., “and Janai the judge.”

13. of the house of their fathers … Jachan … and Heber] R.V. of their fathers’ houses … Jacan … and Eber.

15. chief of the house of their fathers] R.V. chief of their fathers’ houses.

16. in Gilead in Bashan] Read, in Gilead, in Jabesh; cp. 1 Chronicles 10:11-12. The phrase in Gilead in Bashan yields no good sense, for Gilead means the southern, and Bashan the northern part of the territory of Israel east of Jordan.

suburbs] R.V. mg., pasture lands (as in 1 Chronicles 13:2).

Sharon] The well-known Sharon is to be identified with the maritime plain between Joppa and Caesarea. As however the text speaks here of the country E. of Jordan, some other Sharon at present unidentified, must be meant.

upon their borders] R.V. as far as their borders.

17. reckoned by genealogy] A specimen of this kind of reckoning is given in Nehemiah 7:5-65.

in the days of Jotham … and in the days of Jeroboam] “Reckoning by genealogy” is a phrase used only in the writings of the Chronicler (Chron., Ezra, Neh.), but the practice probably resembled what is called in other books “numbering the people.” The object however was different and corresponded with the circumstances of the returned exiles, who found themselves in the midst of a Gentile population in Judaea. The people were “reckoned by genealogy” not so much to take a census of them, as to inquire into the purity of their Israelite descent. The ancient term “numbering” would probably be a more suitable description of a transaction belonging to the days of Jotham. For Jotham see 2 Chronicles 27 and for Jeroboam 2 Kings 14:23-29. The last years of the reign of Jeroboam II. synchronized with part at least of the reign of Jotham.

18–22. The War of the Trans-Jordanic Tribes against the Hagrites

18. forty and four thousand] According to Joshua 4:13 “about forty thousand” from these tribes crossed the Jordan with Joshua to aid in the Conquest.

that went out to the war] R.V. that were able to go forth to war.

19. the Hagarites] R.V. the Hagrites (cp. 1 Chronicles 5:10; 1 Chronicles 5:20).

Jetur, and Naphish, and Nodab] Jetur, Naphish, Kedemah are given as sons of Ishmael in 1 Chronicles 1:31.

20. they were helped] with divine assistance; cp. 1 Chronicles 15:26.

22. was of God] i.e. was prompted by God; cp. 1 Samuel 15:2-3.

23, 24. The Half Tribe of Manasseh

23. Baal-hermon] In Jdg 3:3 a mount Baal-hermon is mentioned. Here probably a city is meant, possibly Banias.

Senir] the name given by the Amorites to Hermon (Deuteronomy 3:9, R.V.).

24. of the house of their fathers] R.V. of their fathers’ houses.

25, 26. The Captivity of the Trans-Jordanic Tribes

25. they transgressed] R.V. they trespassed. The Hebrew verb has a special reference to unlawful or idolatrous worship and also to the violation of a consecrated thing; cp. Joshua 22:16; Joshua 22:20; Joshua 22:31.

the people of the land] R.V. the peoples of the land. Cp. R.V. Preface, pp. vi, vii.

26. stirred up the spirit] Cp. 2 Chronicles 21:16; 2 Chronicles 36:22.

Pul … and … Tilgath-pilneser] Both here and in 2 Kings 15:19; 2 Kings 15:29 (Pul … Tiglath-pileser) the two names are used as though two different persons were meant, but there is no doubt that Pul is the earlier and Tiglath-pileser the royal name of the same king. See note on 1 Chronicles 5:6.

unto Halah, etc.] In 2 Kings 15:29 it is said only, to Assyria; in 2 Kings 17:6 it is said that the Western tribes (“Samaria”) were carried away and placed in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan and in the cities of the Medes.

Halah] probably a district of Mesopotamia, but it has been proposed to identify it with Cilicia which was known to the Assyrians and was under their influence in the later days of their empire.

Habor] a river flowing into the Euphrates from the E., known to the Greeks as Χαβώρας or Ἀβόρρας.

and Hara] No place of this name is known; the reading may be corrupt for and in the cities of the Medes (2 Kings 17:6; 2 Kings 18:11).

the river Gozan] R.V. the river of Gozan. Gozan was a province of Mesopotamia.