Read 1 Chronicles 5
Reuben
5 The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, 2 and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph)— 3 the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel:
Hanok, Pallu, Hezron and Karmi.
4 The descendants of Joel:
Shemaiah his son, Gog his son,
Shimei his son, 5 Micah his son,
Reaiah his son, Baal his son,
6 and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took into exile. Beerah was a leader of the Reubenites.
7 Their relatives by clans, listed according to their genealogical records:
Jeiel the chief, Zechariah, 8 and Bela son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel. They settled in the area from Aroer to Nebo and Baal Meon. 9 To the east they occupied the land up to the edge of the desert that extends to the Euphrates River, because their livestock had increased in Gilead.
10 During Saul’s reign they waged war against the Hagrites, who were defeated at their hands; they occupied the dwellings of the Hagrites throughout the entire region east of Gilead.
Gad
11 The Gadites lived next to them in Bashan, as far as Salekah:
12 Joel was the chief, Shapham the second, then Janai and Shaphat, in Bashan.
13 Their relatives, by families, were:
Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jakan, Zia and Eber—seven in all.
14 These were the sons of Abihail 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 son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was head of their family.
16 The Gadites lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its outlying villages, and on all the pasturelands of Sharon as far as they extended.
17 All these were entered in the genealogical records during the reigns of Jotham king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel.
18 The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men ready for military service—able-bodied men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a bow, and who were trained for battle. 19 They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. 20 They were helped in fighting them, and God delivered the Hagrites and all their allies into their hands, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trustedin him. 21 They seized the livestock of the Hagrites—fifty thousand camels, two hundred fifty thousand sheep and two thousand donkeys. They also took one hundred thousand people captive, 22 and many others fell slain, because the battle was God’s. And they occupied the land until the exile.
The Half-Tribe of Manasseh
23 The people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were numerous; they settled in the land from Bashan to Baal Hermon, that is, to Senir (Mount Hermon).
24 These were the heads of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel. They were brave warriors, famous men, and heads of their families. 25 But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and prostituted themselves to 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 (that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), who took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan, where they are to this day.
Go Deeper
In 1 Chronicle 5, Ezra continues capturing intricate details relating to the tribes of Israel, and in this chapter more specifically the three Transjordan tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. Many times, we’re tempted to just skip over large portions of scripture that contain names we either can’t pronounce or which appear to have no significant story to tell. In today’s passage, we might just want to do that, but sometimes it’s helpful to slow down and see the bigger story in what seems to be meaningless details.
We should remember that these people and their lives are each important to the whole story of God’s deliverance of mankind from the grip and power of sin in humanity. Maybe when we personalize it and remember that each one was born and experienced hunger, losing their first tooth, learning to speak, scraping their knees, puppy love, fear, rejection, wonder, excitement, loss, sickness and death. Each person played their part in God’s story, no matter how seemingly insignificant. Each one shares the honor of having had their name mentioned by God in his word (good or bad).
One thing about the word of God is that it doesn’t hide the faults and failures of these men and women in history. God used, and still uses flawed people to accomplish his redemptive purpose and we get to see just how loving, kind, and gracious God is in the process.
This chapter begins with mentioning Reuben (Jacob’s first born through Leah), a man who defiled his father’s bed (Genesis 35:22), and we see in the story Jacob’s favoritism expressed by choosing Joseph (Rachel’s firstborn son) to receive Reuben’s birthright. We might be tempted to leave that part out; maybe just keep things G-rated and protect peoples’ reputation, etc., but it’s in the rawness and honesty where our loving God and his redemptive purposes are magnified. We see God’s grace demonstrated in the blessings Ruben’s offspring experience in spite of his failure. Scripture tells us that God multiplied their livestock and gave them victory in battle.
Each name mentioned is important in the big story of which God is the author (and you’re part of that story, too). Each person, like a cog in a gear, plays its specific role. One day, God will reveal this tapestry in which we have been woven and we’ll discover how God deserves all the glory in what may seem to be an insignificant story of our lives.
Questions
- Why do you think it is important to God to mention the names of all these people as well as highlighting their faithfulness or unfaithfulness?
- You may not be a preacher, evangelist, or teacher, but you’re a son or daughter, husband or wife, father or mother, friend or mentor, etc. who has touched someone else’s life. How do you see God using you in His story?
- What’s an audacious prayer you can pray asking God to use you in His story?
Try This
Take a moment and look at the verses again. As you look at those names and small details given, consider why their names were mentioned. Find a trusted commentary and dive deeper into one of those names today!
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5 responses to “1 Chronicles 5”
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
Here nestled in the list of names we can’t pronounce is a story of Shema hearing with obedience. vs 20 And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him.
They trusted God and called out to Him and He granted their urgent plea. He also gave them more than they asked for, He blessed them. but then vs 25 But they broke faith with the God of their fathers, and whored after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.
We ask God to help, bless, show up, do things for us, heal us, love us AND He does and then we get complacent, fickle, prideful, sidetracked, or we just waver BUT GOD is always, always faithful and waiting for us to turn back and let Him be our Heavenly Father.
“As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”
2 Samuel 22:31
God I want to trust in You with all my heart. God thank You for helping me not to lean on my own understanding but to acknowledge You and You do direct my path. God give me shema hearing of obedience. God let me hear, to listen to do what You are telling, asking me to do with and for You. God You are amazing at how You pop in with these stories that help me see my fickleness in life. One minute I am doing well and the next being self reliant. God thank YOu for Holy Spirit giving me the nudges of “hey are you listening?” God thank You for being my shield. God I give You these minutes of this day. I thank You for Your way being perfect and that Your Word is proven. God I trust You and thank You for helping me when my trust slips in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
20 “because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.”
I’m going to meditate on this today. I need to cry out to God DURING the battle. I’m sure before and after are important too, but taking the time and the energy in the midst of the battle is what my takeaway is from this chapter!
The bookends of this chapter reveal tragic stories of disobedience that carried severe consequences. What will our legacies be? Determine today to leave trails of great faith and obedience always pointing to the gospel so that others may follow in our steps.
Here we go again… I turn to today’s reading, expecting to “grit my teeth and get through it” —only to discover a chapter full of treasures. When will I stop being surprised to discover that ALL scripture is indeed “God-breathed”?!
1 Chronicles invites me to look beyond the lineage to the significance of the STORY — a story of failure, grace, and God’s sovereign design working quietly through generations.
1️⃣ The Sin of the One; the Consequence of the Many
Reuben’s private failure (Genesis 35:22) reshaped the trajectory of entire tribes. He didn’t just lose a personal privilege — he impacted an entire line of descendants.
That’s sobering. Sin is never contained. Even when it feels private, it spills outward — into families, generations, and legacies.
But here’s what I’m seeing:
Not erasure — but reordering.
Reuben’s name still appears in every genealogical list. His tribe still receives land. He’s still part of Israel. But the place of honor — the firstborn inheritance — moves on.
It’s justice and mercy at once. God holds him accountable without cutting him off. God corrects to REDEEM — not reject.
2️⃣ God is Always Sovereign
Our failures can’t short-circuit His plans — and even our greatest expectations or noblest intentions will never override His design.
Reuben’s sin doesn’t derail the covenant. Judah’s rise doesn’t surprise. Joseph’s sons being grafted in isn’t a last-minute fix — it fits a divine pattern we’ve seen since Isaac and Jacob.
God’s story is never stalled by human imperfection. He just keeps it moving forward, through all the mess — and sometimes because of it. Not in a straight, tidy line, but in a way that shows His freedom to choose, His grace to include, and His faithfulness to redeem. A tangled lineage is not confusing — but comforting.
3️⃣ The Adoption Story — God’s Grace Made Visible
This is where this story takes me from historic — to epic. What began as a dry reading of oddly-named strangers becomes powerful — and personal. I’m now directly and deeply connected to my own story as an adopted child — and adoptive parent.
1 Chronicles 5 reframes Jacob’s adoption of Joseph’s sons by explaining the reason for the adoption: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn son, sinned and sacrificed his birthright, so it was transferred to Joseph. By adopting Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, Jacob gave Joseph a double portion of the inheritance — the central privilege of that birthright.
Adoption stories are always such powerful portrayals of God’s sovereignty. The lives we would have had “by blood” — in accordance with the natural (birth) order of things — are completely transformed by God’s sovereignty, grace and love.
This explains why I continually refer to my daughter as a “walking picture of God’s grace.” I’ve seen where she was born. I’ve seen where she would grow up. I have a pretty clear sense of the life she would’ve had.
And it was bleak indeed. No family to love her, no opportunities to equip her, no birthright to entitle her, no future to inspire her.
So when I look at her and see that she now DOES have these things — it is ONLY because God worked His extraordinary, perfect plan through two extremely ordinary and imperfect people.
Maybe that’s the deeper meaning of this seemingly “dry” chapter:
God can never be limited by human limitations, and our spiritual legacy isn’t something we have to earn. Instead, it is given by grace and received through relationship.
“This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”
-Psalm 118:23
Throughout the chapter, we see God’s hand at work in the events of history. His sovereignty is evident as He orchestrates the rise and fall of nations. “The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19). This reassures us that God is in control, even when circumstances seem uncertain.