Reuben: The Father Redirects the Birthright
Reuben lost the firstborn's right for violating his father's bed. His tribe and Gad and half of Manasseh win a war they credit to our Father, then prostitute themselves to local gods. The same records that count their warriors record their exile.
5 1The sons of Reuben, Israel's firstborn—he was indeed the firstborn, but since he violated his father's bed, his birthright went to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, so he could not be listed as the firstborn in the genealogy. 2Though Judah grew strong among his brothers and a ruler came from him, the birthright was Joseph's. 3The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 4The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, 5Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, 6and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria exiled—he led the Reubenites. 7His relatives by their clans, as listed in the genealogical records: Jeiel the chief, Zechariah, 8and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel. They settled in Aroer, to Nebo and Baal-meon. 9They also settled eastward to the edge of the desert that stretches to the Euphrates, since their livestock had multiplied in Gilead.
10In Saul's days they fought the Hagrites, who fell to them; they lived in the Hagrites' tents across the whole region east of Gilead.
Gad's Descendants in the Land of Bashan
11The sons of Gad lived next to them in the land of Bashan as far as Salcah: 12Joel the chief, Shapham the second-in-command, then Janai and Shaphat in Bashan. 13Their relatives, by their fathers' households, were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber—seven. 14These were sons of Abihail son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz. 15Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was the head of their fathers' households. 16They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its villages, and across all Sharon's pasturelands to their borders. 17All these were listed in genealogies during the reigns of Jotham king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel.
18The Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh had capable men bearing shield and sword, drawing the bow, trained for war—44,760 ready for battle. 19They waged war against the Hagrites, and against Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 20They were helped against them; the Hagrites and all their allies were given into their hand, because they cried out to our Father in battle. He answered them, for they trusted in him. 21They captured the Hagrites' livestock: 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 people. 22Many fell dead, for the battle was our Father's; they lived there until the exile.
Manasseh's Half-Tribe: Their Strength and Fall
23Manasseh's half-tribe lived in the land, growing numerous from Bashan to Baal-hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. 24Heads of their fathers' households: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel—mighty warriors, famous men, heads of their fathers' households. 25But they were unfaithful to their ancestors' God and prostituted themselves to the gods of the land's peoples, whom our Father had destroyed before them. 26So our Father of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria—Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria—and he exiled the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, where they remain to this day.
