The big picture
1 Chronicles 5 opens in verse 1 with “Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 13 with “And their brethren of the house of their fathers were, Michael, and Meshullam, and…”, and closes in verse 26 with “And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of…” Repeated or prominent terms include dwelt, fathers, Israel, king, land. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Chronicles · King James Version · 261 Chronicles 5:1-7
1–7: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn…
1 Chronicles 5:1–7 opens with “Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he…” and reaches “And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 5 develops its own movement around dwelt, fathers, Israel, king, land, with particular weight carried by sons, birthright, firstborn.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s…” Naming Israel and Joseph keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Chronicles 5:1-7
King James Version1Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.
2For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s:)
3The sons, I say, of Reuben the firstborn of Israel were, Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
4The sons of Joel; Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,
5Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son,
6Beerah his son, whom Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites.
7And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,
1 Chronicles 5:8-14
8–14: Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in…
1 Chronicles 5:8–14 opens with “And Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo…” and reaches “These are the children of Abihail the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 5 develops its own movement around dwelt, fathers, Israel, king, land, with particular weight carried by dwelt, Gilead, land.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baal-meon:” Naming Aroer and Azaz keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And eastward he inhabited unto the entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates: because their cattle were…” Naming Euphrates and Gilead keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Chronicles 5:8-14
King James Version8And Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baal-meon:
9And eastward he inhabited unto the entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates: because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead.
10And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagarites, who fell by their hand: and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the east land of Gilead.
11And the children of Gad dwelt over against them, in the land of Bashan unto Salchah:
12Joel the chief, and Shapham the next, and Jaanai, and Shaphat in Bashan.
13And their brethren of the house of their fathers were, Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jachan, and Zia, and Heber, seven.
14These are the children of Abihail the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz;
1 Chronicles 5:15-21
15–21: Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of the house of their…
1 Chronicles 5:15–21 opens with “Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of the house of their fathers.” and reaches “And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 5 develops its own movement around dwelt, fathers, Israel, king, land, with particular weight carried by days, fifty, Hagarites.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of the house of their fathers.” Naming Abdiel and Ahi keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan, and in her towns, and in all the suburbs of Sharon, upon their borders.” Naming Bashan and Gilead keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of…” Naming All and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Chronicles 5:15-21
King James Version15Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of the house of their fathers.
16And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan, and in her towns, and in all the suburbs of Sharon, upon their borders.
17All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.
18The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war.
19And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab.
20And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him.
21And 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 men an hundred thousand.
1 Chronicles 5:22-26
22–26: For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they…
1 Chronicles 5:22–26 opens with “For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until…” and reaches “And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 5 develops its own movement around dwelt, fathers, Israel, king, land, with particular weight carried by fathers, Assyria, dwelt.
Context that brings the passage to life
“For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land: they increased from Bashan unto Baal-hermon and…” Naming Baal and Bashan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Chronicles 5:22-26
King James Version22For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.
23And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land: they increased from Bashan unto Baal-hermon and Senir, and unto mount Hermon.
24And these were the heads of the house of their fathers, even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valour, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers.
25And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.
26And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath-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 Gozan, unto this day.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Chronicles 5:1 begins with “Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the…”
Where the chapter turns
1 Chronicles 5:22 forms a natural hinge: “For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.”
The final note
1 Chronicles 5:26 leaves the reader with “And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words dwelt, fathers, Israel, king, land, sons help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does the repeated ending make readers feel?
Death becomes the chapter's persistent refrain, even as generation follows generation.
What two interruptions offer hope?
Enoch's walk with God and Lamech's hope attached to Noah.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
