1 Chronicles 5 – Reuben, Gad And The Half-Tribe Of Manasseh
1 Chronicles 6 – Levi And Families
1 Chronicles 7–9 – Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim And Asher
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The story of Reuben, the eldest of Jacob (Israel) includes this side note that I missed in reading Genesis, “While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it” (Genesis 35:22). For this transgression, Reuben would be severely punished, “his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with this birthright” (1 Chronicles 5:1). The back-story is significant, Reuben committed this sin just after Jacob was renamed Israel by God himself in Genesis 35:9 and this just after the events surrounding Dinah’s rape and brutal response of Simeon and Levi. How quickly God’s chosen react. With those few verses of detail, we’re back to the listing of sons.
The half-tribe of Manasseh were brave warriors, “but they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land” (1 Chronicles 5:25) and were carried into exile along with the Reubenites and the Gadites by Pul king of Assyria (5:26). Boom! End of narrative on these 2-1/2 tribes.
Chapter 6 covers the Levites, including most notably the Temple Musicians (interestingly) were regarded well among the tribes and taken care of by proving places to live, though not officially included in the inheritance.
Chapter 7 includes Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali (one verse), Manasseh, Ephraim and Asher noting that Joseph’s descendants lived in the lands around Bethel (7:28-29).
Chapter 8 highlights Saul as a Benjamite and includes the details of his genealogy (excerpt repeated in chapter 9:35-44). So now we know fully who Saul was and what became of his family!
Chapter 9 begins with an important statement: “They were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness” (9:1). Great! That’s our ancestry, our heritage!
The significant portion of chapter 9 includes details of the people living in Jerusalem, “the Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants” (9:2) and the gatekeepers (apparently significant).
The most significant insight I see from today’s reading is the Assyrian and Babylonian exile simply stated here as a factual event due to their unfaithfulness. Funny how history has a tendency to compress time, but these events took many years to transpire. Lots of people can and went as they slowly slipped away from God. Sad. Significant. Lord help us to awaken those around us and keep us ever vigilant as we do our best to lead people to you. If history must say we were carted off to captivity or wiped out, let there be a footnote that many were faithful during these times.