1 Chronicles 5

1 Chronicles 5:1

3. Reuben, Gad, and the Half-tribe of Manasseh East of the Jordan (Chap. 5)Chapter 5 deals with the transjordanian tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Very little space is devoted to these tribes. They were among the first to go into captivity (5:26). Verses 1 and 2 explain why the blessing of the birthright was given to other tribes instead of to the Reubenites. When Jacob blessed his children before his death (Gen. 49), he took note of Reuben’s wickedness (Gen_35:22) and removed him from having pre-eminence. The double portion of land due the firstborn went to Joseph (through Ephraim and Manasseh), and the double portion as far as leadership was concerned went to Judah. The Gadites are listed in verses 11-17, and the leaders of the half-tribe of Manasseh are given in verses 23 and 24. The rest of chapter 5 gives a brief account of the fate of these tribes. Together they had fought successfully against the Hagrites (Ishmaelites) (vv. 10, 19-22). With a small army of 44,760 men, they defeated a much bigger enemy force. They had trusted in their God (v. 20), and He gave them victory and abundant spoils (v. 21). Being constantly exposed to the idolatrous nations around them, they soon played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them (v. 25). They turned to the gods who could not save the Ishmaelites and forsook the one true God in whose strength they had conquered. So God gave them into the hand of the Assyrian king and they were carried away into captivity.