(Now he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s bed,¹ his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph, Israel’s son. So Reuben is not listed as firstborn in the genealogical records.²^5:2Though Judah was the strongest among his brothers and a leader descended from him,³ the right of the firstborn belonged to Joseph.)

^5:3The sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn:

Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

^5:4The descendants of Joel:

His son Shemaiah, his son Gog, his son Shimei, ^5:5his son Micah, his son Reaiah, his son Baal, ^5:6and his son Beerah, whom King Tiglath-pileser⁴ of Assyria carried into exile. Beerah⁵ was the tribal leader of Reuben.

^5:7His brothers by their clans, as listed in their genealogical records:

The leader Jeiel, Zechariah, ^5:8and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel.

They lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and Baal Meon. ^5:9In the east they settled as far as the entrance to the desert that stretches to the Euphrates River, for their cattle had increased in numbers in the land of Gilead. ^5:10During the time of Saul they attacked the Hagrites and defeated them. They took over their territory in the entire eastern region of Gilead.⁶

Gad’s Descendants

^5:11The descendants of Gad lived near them in the land of Bashan, as far as Salecah.

^5:12They included Joel the leader, Shapham the second in command, Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan. ^5:13Their relatives, listed according to their families,⁷ included Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber—seven in all.

^5:14These were the sons of Abihail son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz. ^5:15Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was the leader of the family.⁸^5:16They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its surrounding settlements, and in the pasturelands of Sharon to their very borders.⁹^5:17All of them were listed in the genealogical records in the time of King Jotham of Judah and in the time of King Jeroboam of Israel.

^5:18The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men in their combined armies, warriors who carried shields and swords, were equipped with bows, and were trained for war.¹⁰^5:19They attacked¹¹ the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. ^5:20They received divine help in fighting them, and the Hagrites and all their allies were handed over to them. They cried out to God during the battle; he responded to their prayers because they trusted in him.¹²^5:21They seized the Hagrites’¹³ animals, including 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. They also took captive 100,000 people. ^5:22Because God fought for them,¹⁴ they killed many of the enemy.¹⁵ They dispossessed the Hagrites and lived in their land until the exile.¹⁶

The Half-Tribe of Manasseh

^5:23The half-tribe of Manasseh settled in the land from Bashan as far as Baal Hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. They grew in number.

^5:24These were the leaders of their families:¹⁷

Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were skilled warriors, men of reputation,¹⁸ and leaders of their families. ^5:25But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors¹⁹ and worshiped instead²⁰ the gods of the native peoples²¹ whom God had destroyed before them. ^5:26So the God of Israel stirred up²² King Pul of Assyria (that is, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria),²³ and he carried away the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh and took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to this very day.

Levi’s Descendants

^{6:1 (5:27)}¹ The sons of Levi:

Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

^6:2The sons of Kohath:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

^6:3The children of Amram:

Aaron, Moses, and Miriam.

The sons of Aaron:

Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

^6:4Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, and Phinehas was the father of Abishua. ^6:5Abishua was the father of Bukki, and Bukki was the father of Uzzi. ^6:6Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah, and Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth. ^6:7Meraioth was the father of Amariah, and Amariah was the father of Ahitub. ^6:8Ahitub was the father of Zadok, and Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz. ^6:9Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah, and Azariah was the father of Johanan. ^6:10Johanan was the father of Azariah, who served as a priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem.²^6:11Azariah was the father of Amariah, and Amariah was the father of Ahitub. ^6:12Ahitub was the father of Zadok, and Zadok was the father of Shallum. ^6:13Shallum was the father of Hilkiah, and Hilkiah was the father of Azariah. ^6:14Azariah was the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak. ^6:15Jehozadak went into exile when the Lord sent the people of³ Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

^{6:16 (6:1)}⁴ The sons of Levi:

Gershom,⁵ Kohath, and Merari.

^6:17These are the names of the sons Gershom:

Libni and Shimei.

^6:18The sons of Kohath:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

^6:19The sons of Merari:

Mahli and Mushi.

These are the clans of the Levites by their families.⁶

^6:20To Gershom:

His son Libni, his son Jahath, his son Zimmah, ^6:21his son Joah, his son Iddo, his son Zerah, and his son Jeatherai.

^6:22The sons⁷ of Kohath:

His son Amminadab, his son Korah, his son Assir, ^6:23his son Elkanah, his son Ebiasaph, his son Assir, ^6:24his son Tahath, his son Uriel, his son Uzziah, and his son Shaul.

^6:25The sons of Elkanah:

Amasai, Ahimoth,⁸^6:26his son Elkanah,⁹ his son Zophai, his son Nahath, ^6:27his son Eliab, his son Jeroham, and his son Elkanah.¹⁰

^6:28The sons of Samuel:

Joel the firstborn¹¹ and Abijah the second oldest.

^6:29The descendants of Merari:

Mahli, his son Libni, his son Shimei, his son Uzzah, ^6:30his son Shimea, his son Haggiah, and his son Asaiah.

Professional Musicians

^6:31These are the men David put in charge of music in the Lord’s sanctuary,¹² after the ark was placed there. ^6:32They performed music¹³ before the sanctuary¹⁴ of the meeting tent until Solomon built the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem.¹⁵ They carried out their tasks according to regulations.

^6:33These are the ones who served along with their sons:

From the Kohathites:

Heman the musician, son of Joel, son of Samuel, ^6:34son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toah, ^6:35son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son of Mahath, son of Amasai, ^6:36son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah, ^6:37son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, ^6:38son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel.

^6:39Serving beside him was his fellow Levite Asaph,¹⁶ son of Berechiah, son of Shimea, ^6:40son of Michael, son of Baaseiah,¹⁷ son of Malkijah, ^6:41son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adaiah, ^6:42son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei, ^6:43son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi.

^6:44Serving beside them were their fellow Levites, the descendants of Merari, led by¹⁸ Ethan, son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, ^6:45son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah, son of Hilkiah, ^6:46son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer, ^6:47son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merari, son of Levi.

^6:48The rest of their fellow Levites¹⁹ were assigned to perform the remaining tasks at God’s sanctuary.²⁰^6:49But Aaron and his descendants offered sacrifices on the altar for burnt offerings and on the altar for incense as they had been assigned to do in the most holy sanctuary.²¹ They made atonement for Israel, just as God’s servant Moses had ordered.²²

^6:50These were the descendants of Aaron:

His son Eleazar, his son Phinehas, his son Abishua, ^6:51his son Bukki, his son Uzzi, his son Zerahiah, ^6:52his son Meraioth, his son Amariah, his son Ahitub, ^6:53his son Zadok, and his son Ahimaaz.

^6:54These were the areas where Aaron’s descendants lived:²³

The following belonged to the Kohathite clan, for they received the first allotment:²⁴

^6:55They were allotted Hebron in the territory of Judah, as well as its surrounding pasturelands. ^6:56(But the city’s land and nearby towns were allotted to Caleb son of Jephunneh.) ^6:57The descendants of Aaron were also allotted as cities²⁵ of refuge Hebron, Libnah and its pasturelands, Jattir, Eshtemoa and its pasturelands, ^6:58Hilez²⁶ and its pasturelands, Debir and its pasturelands, ^6:59Ashan²⁷ and its pasturelands,²⁸ and Beth Shemesh and its pasturelands.

^6:60Within the territory of the tribe of Benjamin they were allotted²⁹ Geba and its pasturelands, Alemeth and its pasturelands, and Anathoth and its pasturelands. Their clans were allotted thirteen cities in all. ^6:61The rest of Kohath’s descendants were allotted ten cities in the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh.³⁰

^6:62The clans of Gershom’s descendants received thirteen cities within the territory of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh (in Bashan).³¹

^6:63The clans of Merari’s descendants were allotted twelve cities within the territory of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.³²

^6:64So the Israelites gave to the Levites these cities and their pasturelands. ^6:65They allotted these previously named cities from the territory of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.³³

^6:66The clans of Kohath’s descendants also received territory within the tribe of Ephraim.³⁴^6:67They were allotted as cities³⁵ of refuge Shechem and its pasturelands (in the hill country of Ephraim), Gezer and its pasturelands, ^6:68Jokmeam and its pasturelands, Beth Horon and its pasturelands, ^6:69Aijalon and its pasturelands, and Gath Rimmon and its pasturelands.

^6:70Within the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh, the rest of Kohath’s descendants received Aner and its pasturelands and Bileam and its pasturelands.³⁶

^6:71The following belonged to Gershom’s descendants:³⁷

Within the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan and its pasturelands and Ashtaroth and its pasturelands.

^6:72Within the territory of the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh and its…

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Footnotes

1 The phrase when he defiled his father’s bed refers to Reuben having sexual relations with his father Jacob’s concubine Bilhah. This incident is recorded in Gen 35:22.
2 Heb “and not to be listed in the genealogical records as (having) the right of the firstborn.”
3 Heb “and [one] for a leader [was] from him.” This probably refers to the Davidic king.
4 Heb “Tilgath-pilneser,” a variant spelling of Tiglath-pileser (also in v. 26).
5 Heb “he”; the referent (Beerah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
6 Heb “and in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagrites and they fell by their hand and they lived in their tents unto all the face of the east of Gilead.”
7 Heb “and their brothers by the house of their fathers.”
8 Heb “was the head of the house of their fathers.”
9 Heb “unto their extremities.”
10 Heb “the sons of Reuben and the Gadites and half of the tribe of Manasseh, from the sons of bravery, men carrying a shield and sword and treading a bow and trained for war, 44,760 going out for warfare.”
11 Heb “made war with.”
12 Heb “and they were helped against them and they were given over into their hand, the Hagrites and all who were with them, for to God they cried out in the battle and he was entreated [or “allowed himself to be entreated”] by them for they trusted in him.”
13 Heb “their”; the referent (the Hagrites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
14 Heb “from God [was] the battle.”
15 Heb “many slain fell.”
16 Heb “and they lived in place of them until the exile.” The referent of “them” (the Hagrites) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
17 Heb “and these [were] the heads of the house of their fathers.”
18 Heb “men of names.”
19 Heb “fathers.”
20 Heb “prostituted themselves after.”
21 Heb “the peoples of the land.”
22 Heb “stirred up the spirit of.”
23 Heb “and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria.” “Pul” and “Tilgath-pilneser” were names of the same Assyrian ruler, more commonly known as Tiglath-pileser (cf. 2 Kgs 15:29).
1 Beginning with 6:1, the verse numbers through 6:81 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (), with 6:1 = 5:27 , 6:2 = 5:28 , 6:16 = 6:1 , etc., through 6:81 = 6:66 . Beginning with 7:1 the verse numbers in the and are again the same.
2 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
3 The words “the people of” are added in the translation for clarification.
4 Chapter 6 of 1 Chr begins here in the Hebrew text; 6:16–81 = 6:1–66 . See the note at .
5 The name “Gershom” (also in vv. 17, 20, 43, 62, 71) appears as “Gershon” in 1 Chr 6:1.
6 Heb “by their fathers.”
7 Or perhaps, “descendants,” since the list differs from the one in v. 18.
8 Heb “and Achimoth.”
9 The consonantal Hebrew text (Kethib) has, “Elkanah, his son, Elkanah.” The marginal reading (Qere) is “Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah.” The text probably originally read simply, “Elkanah his son.”
10 After the last named individual (“Elkanah” in v. 27) some insert the words “Samuel his son” to facilitate a transition to the following verse, which beings “and the sons of Samuel.” Among the English versions that include this added phrase are , , and .
11 The Hebrew text lacks the name יוֹאֵל (yo’el, “Joel”), which has probably dropped out due to homoioteleuton (note the last three letters of the preceding name שְׁמוּאֵל (shémuel, “Samuel”).
12 Heb “house.”
13 Heb “they were serving … with music.”
14 Or traditionally “tabernacle.”
15 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
16 Heb “and his brother Asaph, the one who stood at his right hand.”
17 A few Hebrew , one , and the read “Maaseiah.”
18 Heb “and the sons of Merari, their brothers, on the left.”
19 Heb “their brothers, the Levites.”
20 Heb “were assigned to all the work of the tabernacle of the house of God.”
21 Heb “for all the work of the holy of holies.”
22 Heb “making atonement for Israel according to all which Moses the servant of God commanded.”
23 Heb “and these were their dwelling places according to their encampments in their territory to the sons of Aaron.”
24 Heb “to the clan of the Kohathites for to them was the lot.”
25 The parallel account in Josh 21:13 has the singular “city,” which apparently refers only to Hebron.
26 The reads “Hilez” here; the place name appears as “Holon” in Josh 21:15.
27 The reads “Ashan” here; the place name appears as “Ain” in Josh 21:16.
28 The and (following the parallel list in Josh 21:16) add “Juttah and its pasturelands” here. Cf. “Jetta”; also , , “Juttah.”
29 The parallel passage in Josh 21:17 adds “Gibeon and its pasturelands” (cf. , , , ). The words “they were allotted” are supplied in the translation for both clarity and stylistic reasons.
30 Heb “to the sons of Kohath who were left from the clan of the tribe, from the half of the tribe of the half of Manasseh by lot ten cities.”
31 Heb “and to the sons of Gershom by their clans from the tribe of Issachar, and from the tribe of Asher, and from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.”
32 Heb “and to the sons of Merari by their clans from the tribe of Reuben, and from the tribe of Gad, and from the tribe of Zebulun by lot, twelve cities.”
33 Heb “and they gave by lot from the tribe of the sons of Judah, and from the tribe of the sons of Simeon, and from the tribe of the sons of Benjamin these cities, which they called them by names.”
34 Heb “and from [it is probably preferable to read “to” here] the clans of the sons of Kohath and there were the cities of their territory from the tribe of Ephraim.”
35 The parallel account in Josh 21:21 has the singular “city,” referring only to Shechem.
36 Heb “and from the half of the tribe of Manasseh, Aner and its pasturelands and Bileam and its pasturelands to the clan, to the sons of Kohath who were left.”
37 Heb “to the sons of Gershom.”