Matthew Henry on 1 Chronicles 5:1-17
We have here an extract out of the genealogies,
I. Of the tribe of Reuben, where we have,
1. The reason why this tribe is thus postponed. It is confessed that Reuben was the first-born of Israel, and, upon that account, might challenge the precedency; but he forfeited his birthright by defiling his father's concubine, and was, for that, sentenced not to excel, Gen 49:4. Sin lessens men, thrusts them down from their excellency. Seventh-commandment sins especially leave an indelible stain upon men's names and families, a reproach which time will not wipe away. Reuben's seed, to the last, bear the disgrace of Reuben's sin. Yet, though that tribe was degraded, it was not discarded or disinherite…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Chronicles 5:11
THE LINE OF GAD. (1Ch. 5:11-26)
the children of Gad dwelt over against them--The genealogy of the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh (Ch1 5:24) is given along with that of the Reubenites, as these three were associated in a separate colony.
Adam Clarke on 1 Chronicles 5:12
Joel the chief - "Joel, prince of the Sanhedrin; and Shapham, master of the college; and Jaanai and Shaphat, judges in Mathnan." - T.
John Gill on 1 Chronicles 5:12
Joel the chief,.... In this and the following verse are reckoned up the principal men in the tribe of Gad, and the chief of all was Joel, another from him in the tribe of Reuben, 1 Chronicles 5:4.
and Shapham the next; the second chief man, from whom, Reland (x) conjectures, Shophan, a city in the tribe of Gad, had its name, Numbers 32:35.
and Jaanai; from whom Danjaan might be called, as Michaelis intimates, 2 Samuel 24:6.
and Shaphat in Bashan; not Shaphat the father of Elisha, according to a tradition of the Jews, mentioned by Kimchi; which is not at all probable.
(x) Palestin. Illustrat. par. 2. p. 602.
Keil & Delitzsch on 1 Chronicles 5:12
