1 Chronicles 5:1-26 - Kingdom Rule of Mercy and Grace

1 Chronicles 5:1-26

The Family of Reuben (Genesis 46:8, 9)

1 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—he was indeed 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 the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright; 2 yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph’s— 3 the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel were Hanoch, 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 and Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria carried into captivity. He was leader of the Reubenites. 7 And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was registered: the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah, 8 and Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, as far as Nebo and Baal Meon. 9 Eastward they settled as far as the entrance of the wilderness this side of the River Euphrates, because their cattle had multiplied in the land of Gilead.

10 Now in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they dwelt in their tents throughout the entire area east of Gilead.

The Family of Gad

11 And the children of Gad dwelt next to them in the land of Bashan as far as Salcah: 12 Joel was the chief, Shapham the next, then Jaanai and Shaphat in Bashan, 13 and their brethren of their father’s house: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jachan, Zia, and Eber—seven in all. 14 These were 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; 15 Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, was chief of their father’s house. 16 And the Gadites dwelt in Gilead, in Bashan and in its villages, and in all the common-lands of Sharon within their borders. 17 All these were registered by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

18 The sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh had forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty valiant men, men able to bear shield and sword, to shoot with the bow, and skillful in war, who went to war. 19 They made war with the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 20 And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him. 21 Then they took away their livestock—fifty thousand of their camels, two hundred and fifty thousand of their sheep, and two thousand of their donkeys—also one hundred thousand of their men; 22 for many fell dead, because the war was God’s. And they dwelt in their place until the captivity.

The Family of Manasseh (East)

23 So the children of the half-tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land. Their numbers increased from Bashan to Baal Hermon, that is, to Senir, or Mount Hermon. 24 These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were mighty men of valor, famous men, and heads of their fathers’ houses.

25 And they were unfaithful to 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, that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He carried the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into captivity. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan to this day.

The family lines of Reuben the firstborn of Israel whose immorality cost him the birthright over Joseph, and of the sons Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh are cove in this chapter.  Joseph was supplanted by Judah ended up ruling even though the birthright was Joseph’s and all three of these tribes cried out in war to God to see victory over the ungodly of the promised land and even dwelt in their respective lands until the captivity to Assyria.  The descendants of Manasseh, however, even though they were mighty men of valor in battle, these ended up running after other gods of the land whom God had destroyed before them instead of being thankful to only worship the one true living LORD who had given them the victory to begin with as one would expect for such a deliverance.  How many name the name of Christ today and yet pursue other gods in worship of self and selfish gain instead of reflecting upon their salvation, their deliverance from God’s just anger on their sin and promise of a far better eternal land (Hebrews 11:16, Revelation 21:2) promised (Luke 12:33, 2 Corinthians 5:1) in the heavens?  We are urged to pursue the Lord (Philippians 3:13-14, 1 John 2:15-16, 17) and not temporary temporal pursuits in place of pleasing God as these examples tell us to avoid or face the consequences of continuing in such idolatrous and even immoral sins which are idolatry (Colossians 3:5, 1 John 5:21) left without repentance.  We can come boldly holding nothing back to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16), even our shame and felling of hopeless failure, knowing our admission of sin brings forgiveness (1 John 1:7-8, 9-10) when confessed and laid before His rule over our lives in mercy and grace for His kingdom’s sake.  This kingdom rule of mercy and grace comes through pursuing the one true God through the descendant of promise, His Son Jesus Christ our Lord who rules over us and deserves our wholehearted singleness of worship and devotion (Mark 12:29-30, 32-33) of heart, mind, body, and soul.  points is to the Kingdom Rule of Mercy and Grace in place of self-seeking idolatry of worldly pursuits.