Introduction
The three tribes, whose descendants are mentioned in this chapter, Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, live in the wilderness side of the Jordan.
1 - 10 Descendants of Reuben
1 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. 2 Though Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him [came] the leader, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph), 3 the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel [were] Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. 4 The sons of Joel [were] Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, 5 Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, 6 Beerah his son, whom Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria carried away into exile; he was leader of the Reubenites. 7 His kinsmen by their families, in the genealogy of their generations, [were] Jeiel the chief, then Zechariah 8 and Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who lived in Aroer, even to Nebo and Baal-meon. 9 To the east he settled as far as the entrance of the wilderness from the river Euphrates, because their cattle had increased in the land of Gilead. 10 In the days of Saul they made war with the Hagrites, who fell by their hand, so that they occupied their tents throughout all the land east of Gilead.
Reuben lost his birthright by an act of fornication (verses 1-2; Gen 35:22; 49:3-4). That birthright went to Joseph. God’s choice goes beyond the natural. But Judah gets the most important place because through him the royal line runs and from his descendants the Leader, the Lord Jesus, will be born.
Reuben has enlarged his area (verses 9-10). He was given permission to stay on the east side of the Jordan and was not compelled to live in the land (Num 32:1-5,33). He wanted to stay on the east side of the Jordan because of his many cattle. It is the side that speaks of the earthly blessings.
What Reuben does present to us is the man who would like to possess more of the earthly blessings. For the Christian, it is dangerous to engage in the accumulation of earthly possessions as an end in itself. He will thereby pierce himself with many griefs (1Tim 6:9-10,17-19).
11 - 22 Descendants of Gad
11 Now the sons of Gad lived opposite them in the land of Bashan as far as Salecah. 12 Joel [was] the chief and Shapham the second, then Janai and Shaphat in Bashan. 13 Their kinsmen of their fathers’ households [were] Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia and Eber, 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 Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz; 15 Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, [was] head of their fathers’ households. 16 They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and in its towns, and in all the pasture lands of Sharon, as far as their borders. 17 All of these were enrolled in the genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel. 18 The sons of Reuben and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, [consisting] of valiant men, men who bore shield and sword and shot with bow and [were] skillful in battle, [were] 44,760, who went to war. 19 They made war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. 20 They were helped against them, and the Hagrites and all who [were] with them were given into their hand; for they cried out to God in the battle, and He answered their prayers because they trusted in Him. 21 They took away their cattle: their 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys; and 100,000 men. 22 For many fell slain, because the war [was] of God. And they settled in their place until the exile.
Gad is a tribe where prayer plays a role (verse 20). Just like Jabez, the Gadites are also answered. In a joint war of the tribes on the east side of the Jordan against the Hagrites they cry out to God. By this they overcome, and not by their defensibility and skill in battle (verse 18). This war was not waged for their own benefit, but for God, it was a “war of God” (verse 22). Although that was the case, they had to fight themselves. Their crying to God is mentioned and shows that God remembers the moments when these tribes also showed their dependence on Him.
23 - 26 Descendants of the Half-Tribe of Manasseh
23 Now the sons of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land; from Bashan to Baal-hermon and Senir and Mount Hermon they were numerous. 24 These were the heads of their fathers’ households, even Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, heads of their fathers’ households. 25 But they acted treacherously against the God of their fathers and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. 26 So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul, king of Assyria, even the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away into exile, namely the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara and to the river of Gozan, to this day.
The half-tribe of Manasseh answers the blessing of God, which has been shown by a great number of descendants, with unfaithfulness to Him. Their unfaithfulness also has consequences for the other two tribes – who certainly also did not remain faithful, but that is not mentioned here – because they are carried away into exile together with the half-tribe of Manasseh by the king of Assyria. The carrying away into exile is mentioned several times in this chapter (verses 6,22,26).