1 Chronicles

Retells some stories from Samuel and Kings, focusing on King David and the importance of worship.

Chapter 5

1 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

*Now, Reuben's sons, who was the first child of Israel, had a birthright. But because he did something wrong in his father's bed, the birthright was given to Joseph's sons instead. So, their family line is not counted based on the birthright.

2 For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph’s:)

*Judah was more successful than his siblings and became the main leader, but Joseph originally had the special birthright.

3 The sons, I say, of Reuben the firstborn of Israel were, Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

*I'm saying that Reuben, the oldest child of Israel had four sons: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

4 The sons of Joel; Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,

*Joel's children: Shemaiah, Gog, Shimei.

5 Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son,

*Micah's child, Reaia's child, Baal's child,

6 Beerah his son, whom Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria carried away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites.

*Beerah's son was taken by King Tilgathpilneser of Assyria as a captive; he was a leader among the people of Reuben.

7 And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,

*And his relatives, organized by family groups, had the leaders named Jeiel and Zechariah when they counted the generations.

8 And Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baalmeon:

*And Bela, son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel, lived in Aroer near Nebo and Baalmeon.

9 And eastward he inhabited unto the entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates: because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead.

*He lived toward the east, up to where the wilderness began near the Euphrates River. This was because their animals increased a lot in the land of Gilead.

10 And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagarites, who fell by their hand: and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the east land of Gilead.

*In Saul's time, they fought against the Hagarites and defeated them. The Hagarites' land was taken over by them, and they lived in tents across the entire eastern part of Gilead.

11 And the children of Gad dwelt over against them, in the land of Bashan unto Salcah:

*The children of Gad lived on the other side, in the area called Bashan up to Salcah.

12 Joel the chief, and Shapham the next, and Jaanai, and Shaphat in Bashan.

*Joel was the leader, followed by Shapham, then Jaanai, and lastly Shaphat in the area called Bashan.

13 And their brethren of the house of their fathers were, Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jachan, and Zia, and Heber, seven.

*The brothers from their family were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jachan, Zia, and Heber, and there were seven of them in total.

14 These are 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;

*These are the kids of Abihail, who is Huri's son, and Huri's dad is Jaroah, then Jaroah's dad is Gilead, followed by Gilead's dad being Michael, and Michael's dad is Jeshishai, then Jeshishai's dad is Jahdo, lastly, Jahdo's dad is Buz.

15 Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of the house of their fathers.

*Ahijah, son of Abdeel, son of Gunni, leader of their family's group.

16 And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan, and in her towns, and in all the suburbs of Sharon, upon their borders.

*They lived in Gilead, Bashan, and her cities, as well as in all the areas around Sharon, along their boundaries.

17 All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

*In the times of Jotham, king of Judah, and Jeroboam, king of Israel, they counted everyone's family history.

18 The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war.

*The sons of Reuben, Gadites, and half of Manasseh had brave men who could use shields, swords, and bows for fighting. They were very skilled in war and numbered 44,740. These men went to fight in battles.

19 And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab.

*They fought against the Hagarites, including Jetur, Nephish, and Nodab.

20 And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him.

*And they got help against their enemies. The Hagarites were captured, along with everyone else who was with them. They called out to God during the fight, and He answered their prayer. This happened because they trusted in Him for help.

21 And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand.

*They stole their animals: 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 people.

22 For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.

*Many people died in the war, as it was God's doing. They lived in their homes until they were captured.

23 And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land: they increased from Bashan unto Baalhermon and Senir, and unto mount Hermon.

*The children living in half of the Manasseh tribe lived in the land. They grew in number from Bashan to Baalhermon and Senir, all the way to Mount Hermon.

24 And these were the heads of the house of their fathers, even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valour, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers.

*These were important leaders of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were all brave and well-known, and they led their family groups.

25 And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.

*They disobeyed their ancestors' God and followed the other gods of the people who God had previously defeated, destroying them.

26 And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, unto this day.

*God inspired the kings of Assyria, Pul and Tilgathpilneser, to capture and move the people from Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh to places like Halah, Habor, Hara, and the Gozan River. This happened long ago.

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