*H Now the sons of Ruben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was his firstborn: but forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his first birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, and he was not accounted for the firstborn.
Ver. 1. First-born. Gen. xlix. 4. W. — He gives this reason for not beginning with him. C. — And he. Prot. "and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birth-right." H.
* Footnote * Genesis 35 : 22
And when he dwelt in that country, Ruben went, and slept with Bala the concubine of his father: which he was not ignorant of. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.* Footnote * Genesis 49 : 4
Thou art poured out as water, grow thou not; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed, and didst defile his couch.*H But of the race of Juda, who was the strongest among his brethren, came the princes: but the first birthright was accounted to Joseph.)
Ver. 2. Accounted to Joseph, viz. as to the double portion, which belonged to the first-born: but the princely dignity was given to Juda, and the priesthood to Levi. Ch. — Yet it is not certain that the latter dignity formed a part of the birth-right, (Gen. xxv. 31.) and the author takes no notice of it. C. — The double portion seems to have been all the privilege. Deut. xxi. 17. Sept. "the blessing or gift was Joseph's." Heb. also does not specify princes, but "the leader," (H.) the Messias, (Syr. &c.) and kings, from David till the captivity. C. Gen. xlix. 4. W.
* Footnote * Genesis 46 : 9
The sons of Ruben: Henoch and Phallu, and Hesron and Charmi.* Footnote * Exodus 6 : 14
These are the heads of their houses by their families. The sons of Ruben the firstborn of Israel: Henoch and Phallu, Hesron and Charmi.* Footnote * Numbers 26 : 5
Ruben the firstborn of Israel. His sons were Henoch, of whom is the family of the Henochites: and Phallu, of whom is the family of the Phalluites:*H The sons of Joel: Samaia his son, Gog his son, Semei his son,
Ver. 4. Joel. It does not appear whether he was the son of the last, or of Henoch.
*H Beera his son, whom Thelgathphalnasar king of the Assyrians carried away captive, and he was prince in the tribe of Ruben.
Ver. 6. Beera, This tribe continued to have princes of their own, after the division of the kingdom. Beera was in power when Thelgathphalnasar, or Theglathphalasar, took five tribes into captivity. 4 K. xv. 29. Only twelve generations are mentioned to fill up about 750 years, from the leaving of Egypt. C. — But Enoch must have lived much sooner, as the Israelites continued in that country at least 215 years. The princes are probably not all specified, as on other occasions. H.
* Footnote * 4_Kings 15 : 29
In the days of Phacee, king of Israel, came Theglathphalasar, king of Assyria, and took Aion, and Abel Domum Maacha, and Janoe, and Cedes, and Asor, and Galaad, and Galilee, and all the land of Nephthali: and carried them captives into Assyria.*H And his brethren, and all his kindred, when they were numbered by their families, had for princes Jehiel, and Zacharias.
Ver. 7. Families, when they were led captive into Assyria; (M.) or before, when the tribe was in a most flourishing condition. — Princes. Heb. and Sept. "prince." — Jehiel. Sept. "Joel," v. 4.
*H And Bala the son of Azaz, the son of Samma, the son of Joel, dwelt in Aroer as far as Nebo, and Beelmeon.
Ver. 8. And. So Heb. &c. as f he was one of the princes. But the Vulg. seems to begin a new sentence, Porro, "now Bala." The possessions of this man must have been very extensive, from the Euphrates till (H.) Baal-meon, within nine miles of Hesebon, (Eus.) almost (C.) as far as the Jordan. T. — Bala, or his descendants, extended their conquests as far as the Euphrates, which had been promised to Israel; and, under Saul, conquered the Agarites, who sprung from Agar. Syr. &c. "the Arabs of Sacca," or the Scenites, "dwelling under tents," and inhabiting the Desert Arabia. The details of this war are probably given, v. 19, &c. C.
*H And eastward he had his habitation as far as the entrance of the desert, and the river Euphrates. For they possessed a great number of cattle in the land of Galaad.
Ver. 9. Cattle, for which reason they desired to have this country. Num. xxxii. 4. M.
*H And the children of Gad dwelt over against them in the land of Basan, as far as Selcha:
Ver. 11. Selcha, not far from Jabok. Deut. iii. 10. C.
*H Johel the chief, and Saphan the second: and Janai, and Saphat in Basan.
Ver. 12. Chief, (in capite.) Sept. "first-born." H. — This list was made under Joathan, king of Juda, when Joel was at the head of the tribe of Gad. C. — Basan, the capital city, v. 16. Sa. M.
*H And their brethren the sons of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of the house in their families,
Ver. 15. And, &c. Heb. also, "Achi, son of Abdiel." — Chief, like the preceding, each in their respective families. C. — They were relations (H.) of the same tribe. M.
*H And they dwelt in Galaad, and in Basan and in the towns thereof, and in all the suburbs of Saron, unto the borders.
Ver. 16. Saron, in Basan; (Jos. xii. 18.) different from those vallies near Joppe, (C.) and between Thabor and Tiberias. Euseb.
*H All these were numbered in the days of Joathan king of Juda, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.
Ver. 17. Israel. Jeroboam II. had been dead two years before Joathan was born: unless some of the numbers be incorrect; which seems very probable. 4 K. xv. 5. Yet these registers might be made at different times, and one, perhaps, under Jeroboam I. as when any war seemed to threaten, the number of soldiers was to be known. C. — It does not appear why the king of Juda is mentioned, as the people were not under his dominion, unless (H.) he was contemporary with Jeroboam II. as some assert. M. — Yet the following expedition seems to have taken place while Israel was still faithful to God. H. By faith they overcame kingdoms. Heb. xi. W.
*H They fought against the Agarites: but the Itureans, and Naphis, and Nodab,
Ver. 19. But, &c. Heb. "and Jetur, &c. (20) and they were helped by God against them." H. — Sept. "they prevailed over them, and the Agarites," &c. The ancient, or higher Iturea, lay between Hermon and Manasses; but the lower, which Josephus includes under this name, took in the deserted possessions of that half tribe. C. — The former (H.) extended from Jordan by Libanus, to the mountains of Tyre. M. — And Naphis, sons of Ismael. Gen. xxv. 13. H.
*H And many fell down slain: for it was the battle of the Lord. And they dwelt in their stead till the captivity.
Ver. 22. Lord. Very dreadful, and in obedience to God's orders. — Captivity, v. 6. C.
*H And the children of the half tribe of Manasses possessed the land, from the borders of Basan unto Baal, Hermon, and Sanir, and mount Hermon, for their number was great.
Ver. 23. Basan, which belonged to Gad. H. — In Josue (xvii. 5.) Basan and Galaad seem to be given to Manasses; but the former there denotes all the level country, from the Jabok to the Jordan, as Galaad is put for the mountains on the East. C. — Great. It would take thirty hours to travel from the torrent Jabok to Baal Hermon. Adric. M.
*H And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Phul king of the Assyrians. and the spirit of Thelgathphalnasar king of Assur: and he carried away Ruben, and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasses, and brought them to Lahela, and to Habor, and to Ara, and to the river of Gozan, unto this day.
Ver. 26. Assur. These princes were scourges in the hand of God, to punish the guilty. H. — The former forced Israel to pay tribute; the latter carried many into captivity, 4 K. xv. 19. 29. and xvi. 7. C. — Lahela, or Hala and Haber, cities watered by the river Gozan. — Ara; perhaps Rages. Tob. i. 16, &c. D.