1 Chronicles 5:11-22--Descendants of Gad

1 Chronicles 5:11-22
English Standard Version

Descendants of Gad
11 The sons of Gad lived over against them in the land of Bashan as far as Salecah: 12 Joel the chief, Shapham the second, Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan. 13 And their kinsmen according to their fathers' houses: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia and Eber, seven. 14 These were the sons of Abihail the son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz. 15 Ahi the son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was chief in their fathers' houses, 16 and they lived in Gilead, in Bashan and in its towns, and in all the pasturelands of Sharon to their limits. 17 All of these were recorded in genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.

​18 The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had valiant men who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, expert in war, 44,760, able to go to war. 19 They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 20 And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him. 21 They carried off their livestock: 50,000 of their camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men alive. 22 For many fell, because the war was of God. And they lived in their place until the exile.

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The second of the two-and-a-half Trans-Jordan tribes are listed here.  We started with Reuben yesterday, today is the tribe of Gad, and tomorrow will be the half-tribe of Manasseh.  The tribe of Gad chose their portion in the land of Bashan to the east of the Jordan River, which was called Gilead by them.  The boundaries of their territory are given as well as their chiefs and heads of families.  Not much else is said about them other than the record of their genealogies was taken during the time of Jotham king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel.

The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh fought together in battle.  When they mustered their troops, their count was 44, 760 men of war--a mixture of those who fought with sword and shield and those who were archers.  All were experts in war.  They fought against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab.  They were the first line of defense for anyone who wished to attach Israel or Judah from the East.  God gave these tribes victory over the Hagites and all who fought with them because the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh cried out to Him while they were in battle, and He answered their call for help.

They carried off the livestock of these peoples they conquered (remember the reason they wanted to stay to the east of the Jordan River was because they had many livestock, and they wanted the pastureland that was there).  The LORD gave them 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men that they took as spoils of war.  God allowed the war to happen, so many of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh fell that day, but the LORD ultimately gave His people victory.  These tribes lived in their respective territories east of the Jordan until the time of Exile.

We'll come back tomorrow and talk about the last Tarns-Jordan tribe--the half-tribe of Manasseh.  They alone remained in the land after the time of the Exile as their genealogy will say that they remain there "to this day."