“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.”
First-born, Genesis xlix. 4. (Worthington) — He gives this reason for not beginning with him. (Calmet) — And he. Protestants, “and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birth-right.” (Haydock)
“For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:) chief: or, prince”
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. (Challoner) — Yet it is not certain that the latter dignity formed a part of the birth-right, (Genesis xxv. 31.) and the author takes no notice of it. (Calmet) — The double portion seems to have been all the privilege, Deuteronomy xxi. 17. Septuagint, “the blessing or gift was Joseph’s.” Hebrew also does not specify princes, but “the leader,” (Haydock) the Messias, (Syriac, &c.) and kings, from David till the captivity. (Calmet) (Genesis xlix. 4.) (Worthington)
“The sons of Joel; Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,”
Joel. It does not appear whether he was the son of the last, or of Henoch.
“Beerah his son, whom Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria carried away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites. Tilgathpilneser: or, Tig-lath-pilne-ser, 2.kin.15.29.and 16.7.”
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 Kings xv. 29. Only twelve generations are mentioned to fill up about 750 years, from the leaving of Egypt. (Calmet) — 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. (Haydock)
“And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,”
Families, when they were led captive into Assyria; (Menochius) or before, when the tribe was in a most flourishing condition. — Princes. Hebrew and Septuagint, “prince.” — Jehiel. Septuagint, “Joel,” ver. 4.
“And Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baalmeon: Shema: or, Shemaiah”
And. So Hebrew, &c., as f he was one of the princes. But the Vulgate seems to begin a new sentence, Porro, “now Bala.” The possessions of this man must have been very extensive, from the Euphrates till (Haydock) Baal-meon, within nine miles of Hesebon, (Eusebius) almost (Calmet) as far as the Jordan. (Tirinus) — 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. Syriac, &c., “the Arabs of Sacca,” or the Scenites, “dwelling under tents,” and inhabiting the Desert Arabia. The details of this war are probably given, ver. 19., &c. (Calmet)
“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.”
Cattle, for which reason they desired to have this country, Numbers xxxii. 4. (Menochius)
“And the children of Gad dwelt over against them, in the land of Bashan unto Salchah:”
Selcha, not far from Jabok, Deuteronomy iii. 10. (Calmet)
“Joel the chief, and Shapham the next, and Jaanai, and Shaphat in Bashan.”
Chief, (in capite.) Septuagint, “first-born.” (Haydock) — This list was made under Joathan, king of Juda, when Joel was at the head of the tribe of Gad. (Calmet) — Basan, the capital city, ver. 16. (Sa) (Menochius)
“Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of the house of their fathers.”
And, &c. Hebrew also, “Achi, son of Abdiel.” — Chief, like the preceding, each in their respective families. (Calmet) — They were relations (Haydock) of the same tribe. (Menochius)
“And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan, and in her towns, and in all the suburbs of Sharon, upon their borders. their: Heb. their goings forth”
Saron, in Basan; (Josue xii. 18.) different from those vallies near Joppe, (Calmet) and between Thabor and Tiberias. (Eusebius)
“All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.”
Israel. Jeroboam II had been dead two years before Joathan was born: unless some of the numbers be incorrect; which seems very probable, 4 Kings 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. (Calmet) — It does not appear why the king of Juda is mentioned, as the people were not under his dominion, unless (Haydock) he was contemporary with Jeroboam II, as some assert. (Menochius) — Yet the following expedition seems to have taken place while Israel was still faithful to God. (Haydock) By faith they overcame kingdoms, Hebrews xi. (Worthington)
“And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab.”
But, &c. Hebrew, “and Jetur, &c., (20) and they were helped by God against them.” (Haydock) — Septuagint, “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. (Calmet) — The former (Haydock) extended from Jordan by Libanus, to the mountains of Tyre. (Menochius) — And Naphis, sons of Ismael, Genesis xxv. 13. (Haydock)
“For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.”
Lord. Very dreadful, and in obedience to God’s orders. — Captivity, ver. 6. (Calmet)
“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.”
Basan, which belonged to Gad. (Haydock) — 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. (Calmet) — Great. It would take thirty hours to travel from the torrent Jabok to Baal Hermon. (Adrichomius) (Menochius)
“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.”
Assur. These princes were scourges in the hand of God, to punish the guilty. (Haydock) — The former forced Israel to pay tribute; the latter carried many into captivity, 4 Kings xv. 19, 29., and xvi. 7. (Calmet) — Lahela, or Hala and Haber, cities watered by the river Gozan. — Ara; perhaps Rages, Tobias i. 16, &c. (Du Hamel)