1 Chronicles 5

1 And the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel — for he was the first-born; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's couch, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, yet not so that he was to be reckoned in the genealogy as first-born.

The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. (Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel because he had defiled his father's bed. That is why Reuben is not listed in the genealogy according to birthright,

2 For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came he that is the prince; but the birthright was Joseph's —

and even though Judah became the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the birthright belonged to Joseph.)

3 the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

4 The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son;

The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,

5 Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son;

Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son,

6 Beerah his son, whom Tillegath-pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive; he was prince of the Reubenites.

and Beerah his son, the one whom Tiglath-Pileser the king of Assyria took into exile. He (Beerah) was a leader of the Reubenites.

7 And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned: the chief Jeiel, and Zechariah,

Beerah's relatives are, listed in their genealogical records by family: Jeiel (chief), Zechariah,

8 and Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baal-meon;

and Bela of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel. They lived from Aroer to Nebo and Baal Meon.

9 and eastward he dwelt even unto the entrance of the wilderness from the river Euphrates; because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead.

On the eastern side they expanded into the land right up to the edge of the desert that continues to the Euphrates River, because their flocks had grown so big in Gilead.

10 And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the land east of Gilead.

In the time of Saul they went to war against the Hagrites, defeating them. They took over the places where the Hagrites had lived in all the regions east of Gilead.

11 And the sons of Gad dwelt over against them, in the land of Bashan unto Salcah:

Next to them the descendants of Gad lived in Basha, all the way to Salecah.

12 Joel the chief, and Shapham the second, and Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan;

Joel (chief), Shapham (second), and Janai and Shaphat, in Bashan.

13 and their brethren of their fathers' houses: Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jacan, and Zia, and Eber, seven.

Their relatives, according to family, were: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber—a total of seven.

14 These were the sons of Abihail the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jehishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz;

These were the sons of Abihail, son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz.

15 Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of their fathers' houses.

Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was their family chief.

16 And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan, and in the towns thereof, and in all the open lands of the plain, upon their borders.

They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its towns, and throughout the pasturelands of Sharon all the way to their borders.

17 All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

They were all were recorded in the genealogy during the time of Jotham king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel.

18 The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, as many as were valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were forty and four thousand seven hundred and threescore, that were able to go forth to war.

The tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 battle-ready strong warriors capable of using shields and swords and bows.

19 And they made war with the Hagrites, with Jetur, and Naphish, and Nodab.

They went to war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab.

20 And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them; for they cried to God in the battle, and He was entreated of them, because they put their trust in Him.

They received help in fighting these enemies because they called out to God during the battles. In this way they were able to defeat the Hagrites and all who were with them. God answered their prayers because they trusted in him.

21 And they took away their cattle: of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand; and of souls of men a hundred thousand.

They captured their enemies' livestock—fifty thousand camels, two hundred fifty thousand sheep, and two thousand donkeys. They also captured one hundred thousand people,

22 For there fell many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their stead until the captivity.

and many others were killed because the battle belonged to God. They took over the land and lived there until the exile.

23 And the children of the half-tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land, from Bashan unto Baal-hermon and Senir and mount Hermon, where they increased.

The half-tribe of Manasseh had grown very large. They lived in the land from Bashan to Baal Hermon, (otherwise known as Senir and Mount Hermon).

24 And these were the heads of their fathers' houses: Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valour, famous men, heads of their fathers' houses.

These were the family heads: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were strong warriors, famous men, heads of their families.

25 And they broke faith with the God of their fathers, and went astray after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God destroyed before them.

But they were unfaithful to the God of their forefathers. They prostituted themselves by following the gods of the peoples of the land, those that God had destroyed before them.

26 And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tillegath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river of Gozan, unto this day.

So the God of Israel encouraged of Pul, king of Assyria, (otherwise known as Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), to invade the land. He took into exile the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh. He brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to this very day.