1 Tawarikh 5:1-8

Reuben’s Descendants

5:1 The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn –

(Now he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s bed, ¹  his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph, Israel’s son. So Reuben is not listed as firstborn in the genealogical records. ²  5:2 Though Judah was the strongest among his brothers and a leader descended from him, ³  the right of the firstborn belonged to Joseph.)

5:3 The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn:

Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

5:4 The descendants of Joel:

His son Shemaiah, his son Gog, his son Shimei, 5:5 his son Micah, his son Reaiah, his son Baal, 5:6 and his son Beerah, whom King Tiglath-pileser ⁴  of Assyria carried into exile. Beerah ⁵  was the tribal leader of Reuben.

5:7 His brothers by their clans, as listed in their genealogical records:

The leader Jeiel, Zechariah, 5:8 and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel.

They lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and Baal Meon.

[5:1]  ¹ sn The phrase when he defiled his father’s bed refers to Reuben having sexual relations with his father Jacob’s concubine Bilhah. This incident is recorded in Gen 35:22.

[5:1]  ² tn Heb “and not to be listed in the genealogical records as (having) the right of the firstborn.”

[5:2]  ³ tn Heb “and [one] for a leader [was] from him.” This probably refers to the Davidic king.

[5:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “Tilgath-pilneser,” a variant spelling of Tiglath-pileser (also in v. 26).

[5:6]  ⁵ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Beerah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.