This chapter relates the genealogies of the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh which lived east of the River Jordan. Reuben was Jacob's firstborn but he lost his birthright because he defiled his father's marriage bed which is probably a reference to him having had sex with one of his father's concubines. The text also tells about Reuben's descendants up to their Assyrian exile in about 733 BC.
Next come the descendants of Gad who lived north of the Reubenites east of the Jordan. The tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh summed 44,760 men fit for military service and they battled with the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. God was with them and they seized 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys and 100,000 people. They killed many people too and occupied the land until the Assyrian exile.
Finally in this chapter are listed the heads of Manasseh's families. Sadly Reuban, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh turned away from God and returned to pagan idolatry which resulted in the eventual exile in Assyria of Israel as punishment from God.
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