Topical Encyclopedia The Reubenites, descendants of Reuben, the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah, were one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Their inheritance was located east of the Jordan River, in the region of Gilead, as described in the Book of Numbers: "The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock" (Numbers 32:1). This territory was part of the land conquered from the Amorite kings Sihon and Og during the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land.The Reubenites, along with the tribes of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, settled in this Transjordan area. Despite their initial zeal and commitment to the covenant with Yahweh, the Reubenites, like many of the tribes, struggled with idolatry and disobedience to God's commands. This spiritual decline ultimately led to their downfall and captivity. The Assyrian captivity of the Reubenites is a significant event in the history of Israel. It occurred during the reign of Tiglath-Pileser III, the king of Assyria, in the 8th century BC. The biblical account of this event is found in 1 Chronicles 5:25-26: "But they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel stirred the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), who took the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to this day" . This passage highlights the spiritual infidelity of the Reubenites, which led to their captivity. Their worship of foreign gods and failure to remain faithful to the covenant with Yahweh resulted in divine judgment. The Assyrian captivity was not merely a political or military defeat but a direct consequence of their spiritual apostasy. The exile of the Reubenites, along with the other tribes east of the Jordan, marked a significant moment in the history of Israel. It served as a warning to the remaining tribes about the consequences of turning away from God. The Reubenites' captivity is a sobering reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God's covenant and the dangers of idolatry and assimilation into surrounding pagan cultures. The Reubenites' account is a testament to the biblical theme of covenant faithfulness and the repercussions of disobedience. Their captivity underscores the seriousness with which God views idolatry and the necessity for His people to remain distinct and devoted to Him. Nave's Topical Index 2 Kings 15:29In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria. Nave's Topical Index 1 Chronicles 5:26 Library The Assyrian Captivity Book 4 Footnotes The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus Resources Who was Eliezer in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhy was the altar in Joshua 22:10 34 such a big deal? | GotQuestions.org Why did Jehu destroy the Baal worship in Israel but not the worship of golden calves? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Reubenites: Assist the Other Tribes in Conquest of the Region West of the Jordan River Reubenites: Have Their Inheritance East of the Jordan River Reubenites: Military Enrollment of, at Mount Sinai Reubenites: Military Enrollment of, in Moab Reubenites: Place of, in Camping and Marching Reubenites: Reproached by Deborah Reubenites: Taken Captive Into Assyria Reubenites: Unite With the Other Tribes in Building a Monument Related Terms Tiglath-pileser (6 Occurrences) Tillegath-pilneser (3 Occurrences) Tilgathpilneser (3 Occurrences) Tilgath-pilneser (3 Occurrences) Til'gath-pilne'ser (3 Occurrences) |
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