1 Chronicles 5

1 As to sons of Reuben, first-born of Israel — for he [is] the first-born, and on account of his profaning the couch of his father hath his birthright been given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, and [he is] not to be reckoned by genealogy for the birthright,

The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—now Reuben was Israel's firstborn, but his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel because Reuben had defiled his father's couch. So he is not recorded as being the oldest son.

2 for Judah hath been mighty over his brother, and for leader above him, and the birthright [is] to Joseph.

Judah was the strongest of his brothers, and the leader would come from him. But the birthright was Joseph's—

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

the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel were Hanok, Pallu, Hezron, and Karmi.

4 Sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,

The descendants of Joel were these: Joel's son was Shemaiah. Shemaiah's son was Gog. Gog's son was Shimei.

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

Shimei's son was Micah. Micah's son was Reaiah. Reaiah's son was Baal.

6 Beerah his son, whom Tilgath-Pilneser king of Asshur removed; he [is] prince of the Reubenite.

Baal's son was Beerah, whom Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took into exile. Beerah was a leader in the tribe of Reuben.

7 And his brethren, by their families, in the genealogy of their generations, [are] heads: Jeiel, and Zechariah,

Beerah's relatives according to their clans, listed according to their genealogical records: Jeiel the leader, Zechariah, and

8 and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel — he is dwelling in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baal-Meon;

Bela son of Azaz son of Shema son of Joel. They lived in Aroer, as far as Nebo and Baal Meon,

9 and at the east he dwelt even unto the entering in of the wilderness, even from the river Phrat, for their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead.

and eastward to the start of the wilderness that extends to the Euphrates River. This was because they had many cattle in the land of Gilead.

10 And in the days of Saul they have made war with the Hagarites, who fall by their hand, and they dwell in their tents over all the face of the east of Gilead.

In the days of Saul, the tribe of Reuben attacked the Hagrites and defeated them. They lived in the Hagrites' tents throughout all the land east of Gilead.

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

The members of the tribe of Gad lived near them, in the land of Bashan as far as Salekah.

12 Joel the head, and Shapham the second, and Jaanai and Shaphat in Bashan;

Joel was their leader; Shapham was second; and Janai and Shaphat in Bashan.

13 and their brethren of the house of their fathers [are] Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jachan, and Zia, and Heber, seven.

Their relatives, by their fathers' families, were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jakan, Zia, and Eber—seven in all.

14 These [are] sons of Abihail son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz;

These persons named above were the descendants of Abihail, and Abihail was the son of Huri. Huri was the son of Jaroah. Jaroah was the son of Gilead. Gilead was the son of Michael. Michael was the son of Jeshishai. Jeshishai was the son of Jahdo. Jahdo was the son of Buz.

15 Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, [is] head of the house of their fathers;

Ahi son of Abdiel son of Guni, was head of their fathers' family.

16 and they dwell in Gilead in Bashan, and in her small towns, and in all suburbs of Sharon, upon their outskirts;

They lived in Gilead, in Bashan, in its towns, and in all the pasturelands of Sharon as far as its borders.

17 all of them reckoned themselves by genealogy in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

All these were listed by genealogical records in the days of Jotham king of Judah and of Jeroboam king of Israel.

18 Sons of Reuben, and the Gadite, and the half of the tribe of Manasseh, of sons of valour, men bearing shield and sword, and treading bow, and taught in battle, [are] forty and four thousand and seven hundred and sixty, going out to the host.

The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 soldiers trained for war, who carried shield and sword, and who drew the bow.

19 And they make war with the Hagarites, and Jetur, and Naphish, and Nodab,

They attacked the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab.

20 and they are helped against them, and the Hagarites are given into their hand, and all who [are] with them, for they cried to God in battle, and He was entreated of them, because they trusted in Him.

They received divine help against them. In this way, the Hagrites and all who were with them were defeated. This was because the Israelites cried out to God in the battle, and he responded to them, because they put their trust in him.

21 And they take captive their cattle, of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of human beings a hundred thousand;

They captured their animals, including fifty thousand camels, 250,000 sheep, two thousand donkeys, and 100,000 men.

22 for many have fallen pierced, for of God [is] the battle; and they dwell in their stead till the removal.

Many fell because the battle was from God. They lived in their land until the captivity.

23 And the sons of the half of the tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land, from Bashan unto Baal-Hermon, and Senir, and mount Hermon, they have multiplied.

The half tribe of Manasseh lived in the land of Bashan as far as Baal Hermon and Senir (that is, Mount Hermon).

24 And these [are] heads of the house of their fathers, even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, men mighty in valour, men of name, heads to the house of their fathers.

These were the heads of their fathers' houses: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were mighty men, famous men, heads of their fathers' houses.

25 And they trespass against the God of their fathers, and go a-whoring after the gods of the peoples of the land whom God destroyed from their presence;

But they were unfaithful to their ancestors' God. Instead, they worshiped the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.

26 and stir up doth the God of Israel the spirit of Pul king of Asshur, and the spirit of Tilgath-Pilneser king of Asshur, and he removeth them — even the Reubenite, and the Gadite, and the half of the tribe of Manasseh — and bringeth them in to Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and the river of Gozan unto this day.

The God of Israel stirred up Pul king of Assyria (also called Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria). He took into exile the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh. He brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and to the river of Gozan, where they remain to this day.