17 all of them reckoned themselves by genealogy in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.
18 Sons of Reuben, and the Gadite, and the half of the tribe of Manasseh, of sons of valour, men bearing shield and sword, and treading bow, and taught in battle, 'are' forty and four thousand and seven hundred and sixty, going out to the host. 19 And they make war with the Hagarites, and Jetur, and Naphish, and Nodab, 20 and they are helped against them, and the Hagarites are given into their hand, and all who 'are' with them, for they cried to God in battle, and He was entreated of them, because they trusted in Him. 21 And they take captive their cattle, of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of human beings a hundred thousand; 22 for many have fallen pierced, for of God 'is' the battle; and they dwell in their stead till the removal.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 5:17-22
Chapter Contents
Genealogies.
This chapter gives some account of the two tribes and a half seated on the east side of Jordan. They were made captives by the king of Assyria, because they had forsaken the Lord. Only two things are here recorded concerning these tribes. 1. They all shared in a victory. Happy is that people who live in harmony together, who assist each other against the common enemies of their souls, trusting in the Lord, and calling upon him. 2. They shared in captivity. They would have the best land, not considering that it lay most exposed. The desire of earthly objects draws to a distance from God's ordinances, and prepares men for destruction.