_A.M. 2704. B.C. 1300._ The genealogies of Reuben, 1 Chronicles 5:1. Of Gad, 1 Chronicles 5:11. Of the half-tribe of Manasseh, 1 Chronicles 5:23; 1 Chronicles 5:24. Joined together they conquer the Hagarites, 1 Chronicles 5:18. They are led captive by the king of Assyria, 1 Chronicles 5:25; 1 Chron... [ Continue Reading ]
_The son of Israel_ This is added emphatically, because the sons of Joseph, Manasseh, and Ephraim were treated as if they had been the immediate sons of Jacob. _The genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright_ This is the second reason which showeth both why Reuben's genealogy was not first... [ Continue Reading ]
_For Judah_ Not the person, (for in person Joseph prevailed,) but the tribe of Judah. _Prevailed_ Excelled the other tribes, especially in the following privilege. _And of him_ Rather, _For of him_, as the Hebrew ו, _vau_, is often used: this being a reason of the foregoing assertion, or declaration... [ Continue Reading ]
_And his brethren_ The other sons of Reuben, and their posterity. _Were the chief_ Hebrew, _the head:_ each was the head of his family. _Who dwelt in Aroer, even_, &c. Namely, the Reubenites, all those here before mentioned, as appears, both by the following verses, which relate to the whole tribe,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And eastward he inhabited_ That is, the tribe of Reuben. _Unto the entering in of the wilderness_, &c. From Jordan and the wilderness, beyond it unto Euphrates. Or, _of the wilderness_, which lies _toward_, or reacheth _to the river Euphrates_ Namely, the great wilderness of Kedemoth, (Deuteronomy... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the days of Saul they made war_ The Gadites and Manassites joining with them in the war, 1 Chronicles 5:18. _With the Hagarites _ The Ishmaelites who dwelt in Arabia Deserta. _They dwelt in their tents _ The Israelites took possession of their lands, and tents or houses, which lay eastward from... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joel the chief_ The prince of the tribe, or, at least, of the family, when they were numbered, namely, in the days of Jotham, 1 Chronicles 5:17. _In Bashan_ That is, either who dwelt in the city of Bashan, or who abode in Bashan to defend the city and country, when their brethren went out to war ag... [ Continue Reading ]
_These are the children of Abihail_ These seven last named. _Ahi, chief of the house of their fathers_ Ahi was the head or chief of the houses or families of those seven named 1 Chronicles 5:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
_They dwelt in Gilead_ That is, the children or tribe of Gad inhabited a part of Gilead, the Reubenites and Manassites dwelling in other parts of it, Deuteronomy 3:12. _In Bashan_ In the land of Bashan, as is said, 1 Chronicles 5:11. _And in her towns_ In some of her cities and towns. _In all the su... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the days of Jotham king of Judah_ Who, reigning long, partly in his father's days, and partly by himself, and being at leisure from wars and troubles, thought this a fit season to examine the state of his people. _And in the days of Jeroboam_ Probably Jeroboam the second, of whom see 2 Kings 13:... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sons of Reuben_, &c. These three tribes, or at least so many of them as made a great army, joined their forces together, consisting of their best soldiers, to invade the country of the Hagarites. _They were helped against them_ Against the Hagarites, who, it seems, fought stoutly; but God assis... [ Continue Reading ]
_Of their camels fifty thousand_ For camels were very numerous in Arabia, being used in war and for burdens, &c., and being very patient of thirst, and therefore most fit for those hot and dry countries. _Of men a hundred thousand_ Whom they took prisoners, and either used as slaves, or sold them fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_For there fell down many slain_ Besides those taken captive, a great number were slain in the battle. _Because the war was of God_ Undertaken in his fear, and carried on in a dependance on him. Then we may expect to prosper in any enterprise, and then only, when we take God along with us. _And they... [ Continue Reading ]
_The half-tribe of Manasseh_ Having spoken of the Reubenites, (1 Chronicles 5:3,) and next of the Gadites, (1 Chronicles 5:11, &c.,) he now comes to the Manassites. _Dwelt in the land_ In the same country with the Reubenites and Gadites, on the other side of Jordan, namely, in the northern part of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_They transgressed against the God of their fathers_ Had they kept close to God and their duty, they would have continued to enjoy both their ancient lot and their new conquests; but lying upon the borders, and conversing with the neighbouring nations, they learned their idolatrous usages, and trans... [ Continue Reading ]
_The God of Israel_ Who had been a husband to Israel, and whose jealousy burned like fire, when Israel _went a whoring after other gods. Stirred up the spirit of Pul, king of Assyria_, &c. That is, so governed his counsels and affections, that he brought his forces against this people rather than ot... [ Continue Reading ]