Reuben’s Descendants

1These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. He was the firstborn,a but his birthright was given to the sons of Josephb son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed.c He is not listed in the genealogy according to birthright. 2Although Judah became strong among his brothersd and a ruler came from him,e the birthright was given to Joseph.

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

Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

4Joel’s sons: his son Shemaiah,

his son Gog, his son Shimei,

5his son Micah, his son Reaiah,

his son Baal, 6and his son Beerah.

Beerah was a leader of the Reubenites, and Tiglath-pileserg king of Assyria took him into exile. 7His relatives by their families as they are recorded in their genealogy:h

Jeiel the chief, Zechariah,

8and Bela son of Azaz,

son of Shema, son of Joel.

They settled in Aroeri as far as Nebo and Baal-meon. 9They also settled in the east as far as the edge of the desert that extends to the Euphrates River, because their herds had increased in the land of Gilead.j 10During Saul’s reign they waged war against the Hagrites,k who were defeated by their power. And they lived in their tents throughout the region east of Gilead.

Gad’s Descendants

11The sonsl of Gad lived next to them in the land of Bashan as far as Salecah:m

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

13Their relatives according to their ancestral houses: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber — seven.

14These 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.

15Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was head of their ancestral houses. 16They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its towns, and throughout the pasturelands of Sharon.n 17All of them were registered in the genealogies during the reigns of Judah’s King Jothamo and Israel’s King Jeroboam.p

18The sons of Reuben and Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 warriors who could serveq in the army — men who carried shield and sword, drew the bow, and were trained for war. 19They waged war against the Hagrites,r Jetur,s Naphish, and Nodab. 20They received help against these enemies because they cried out to God in battle, and the Hagrites and all their allies were handed over to them.t He granted their request because they trusted in Him.u 21They captured the Hagrites’ livestock — 50,000 of their camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys — as well as 100,000 people. 22Many of the Hagrites were killed because it was God’s battle.v And they lived there in the Hagrites’ placew until the exile.x

Half the Tribe of Manasseh

23The sons of half the tribe of Manasseh settled in the land from Bashan to Baal-hermon (that is, Seniry or Mount Hermon); they were numerous. 24These were the heads of their ancestral houses: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were brave warriors, famous men, and heads of their ancestral houses. 25But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors. They prostituted themselvesz with the gods of the nationsaa God had destroyed before them.ab 26So the God of Israel put it into the mind of Pulac (that is, Tiglath-pileserad) king of Assyria to take the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and Gozan’s river, where they are until today.