1 Chronicles 5:18

1 Chronicles 5:18 says, The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war.  We are told that the descendants of Rueben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh, forty-four thousand, seven hundred sixty in number, were valiant men who were skilled in the use of weapons and waging war and engaged in war with those around them.  We are at war spiritually with the world today, and we need to put on the armor of God and be skilled in using it as we engage in that war.  Verse nineteen adds, And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab. They went to war with the Hagarites. Verse twenty continues, And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him.  The help that they received was the help of God, which He gave them because they put their faith in Him, and they were successful in the war.  Our help as Christians today will come from God, as long as we are faithful to Him.  Verse twenty-one states, And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand.  They took a lot of livestock from those they had defeated in the war, and also took a hundred thousand men as captives.  That was over twice as many as the number of Israelites fighting against them.  It doesn't matter how badly we are outnumbered, as long as we remain faithful to God, He will always give us the victory spiritually.  As followers of Christ, we are not at war with the world for material gain, but to bring honor and glory to God and to reach others with the gospel of Christ.  Verse twenty-two adds, For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.  Many more of the enemy were killed in the war, because God was behind the war.  The victory over sin and evil in the world was defeated by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, and we simply have to accept that victory by putting our faith in Him.  Verse twenty-three continues, 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.  The half the tribe of Manasseh took possession of the land, and through our faith in Jesus Christ, we already have possession of a heavenly home.  Verse twenty-four says, And these were the heads of the house of their fathers, even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valour, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers.  We are given a list of some of the heads of the house of the families.  Verse twenty-five adds, And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.  Unfortunately, they did not remain faithful to God, but started putting their faith in other gods.  God had given them the victory, but they did not continue to be faithful to Him.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we should never allow anything to become more important to us than our relationship with Him.  If we do, we are guilty of chasing after other gods, I believe.  Verse twenty-six continues, 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.  When the people abandoned God, he no longer gave them His protection and they were defeated and taken away captive.  If we fail to put our faith in God in every situation, we may find ourselves defeated by sin, even though through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ it has been defeated.  As I have stated many times, I believe that once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord that we are forever a part of God's family, but if we fail to put our faith in Him, we may suffer defeat spiritually until His return.  Being a part of God's family in name only did not save these two and half tribes from being defeated, and being a Christian in name only without having truly put our faith in Jesus Christ will never save us today.

1 Chronicles 5:11

1 Chronicles 5:11 says, And the children of Gad dwelt over against them, in the land of Bashan unto Salcah:  Now, we have the descendants of Gad listed.  Verse twelve adds, Joel the chief, and Shapham the next, and Jaanai, and Shaphat in Bashan.  Verse thirteen continues, And their brethren of the house of their fathers were, Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jachan, and Zia, and Heber, seven.  Verse fourteen states, These are the children of Abihail the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz;  Here, the genealogy seems to be reversed, tracing from the most recent backward.  Matthew Henry says it was during the reign of Jeroboam II the that genealogies really became important, being used to prove that they were children of the Covenant and taking pride in it, even if they weren't obeying it.  Our earthly lineage will never save us.  Verse fifteen adds, Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of the house of their fathers.  Ahi was listed as the chief of the house.  Verse sixteen continues, And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan, and in her towns, and in all the suburbs of Sharon, upon their borders.  Then, we are told the area they lived in.  Verse seventeen concludes, All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.  As already stated, these genealogies were completed during the reign of Jeroboam II in Israel and Jotham in Judah, shortly before the people were taken away captive in Assyria.  Relying on being people born to those who made the covenant with God did not keep them safe when they had refused to follow the covenant, and being born to Christian parents or maybe even farther back to grandparents will not save us today.  We must personally have a covenant relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ in order to be saved.

1 Chronicles 5:1

1 Chronicles 5:1 says, 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.  Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, defiled his father's bed so his genealogy is counted as less important since his birthright passed to the sons of Joseph.  Since the firstborn birthright included a double portion, it was passed to two of Joseph's sons.  Matthew Henry says sin diminished Reuben, but it did not exile him forever.  As Christians, if we sin, we will always be diminished in the eyes of the world at least, but we will never be exiled from the grace of God.  Verse two adds, For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:)  Joseph became a part of the genealogy of Jesus Christ because the physical birthright had passed from Reuben.  It is our spiritual birthright that counts, and no one is above another in our relationship to Jesus Christ because of who our parents are.  Verse three continues, The sons, I say, of Reuben the firstborn of Israel were, Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.  Then we have a list of Reuben's sons.  This follows for several generations until the people of Israel were carried away captive to Assyria.  Verse four states, The sons of Joel; Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,  We follow through by the listing of the sons, grandsons, and farther, of Joel.  Matthew Henry says there were no doubt many descendants who weren't listed.  The only thing that is important in a person's life today that makes them a part of God's family is their rebirth through their relationship to Jesus Christ, yet people still look for their genealogy, which the Bible refers to as a vain thing, or something of no value.  Verse five adds, Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son,  Verse six continues, Beerah his son, whom Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria carried away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites.  As stated earlier, this follows Reuben's descendants until their captivity by the Assyrians. Verse six concludes, And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,  Then, we are told that the chief of his descendants when the genealogy of the generations was listed were Jeiel and Zechariah.  Verse eight says, And Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baalmeon:  Then, we have the area controlled by Bela, the great-grandson of Joel.  Verse nine adds, 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.  Verse ten concludes, And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagarites, who fell by their hand: and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the east land of Gilead.  As they cast out the people already in the land, God was fulfilling His promise to them by casting out their enemies little by little.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. the power of our spiritual enemies is cast out, and can only have power in our life once more if we allow them to. 

1 Chronicles 4:34

1 Chronicles 4:34 says, And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah, the son of Amaziah,  These next several verses just continue with genealogies, so there is little to say about them. Verse thirty-five adds, And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,  Verse thirty-six continues, And Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,  Verse thirty-seven concludes, And Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah;  Verse thirty-eight adds, These mentioned by their names were princes in their families: and the house of their fathers increased greatly.  We are told that these men were princes in their families and that the house, or numbers of descendants, increased greatly.  What we need today is for those in the spiritual family of God to increase greatly.  Veres thirty-nine adds, And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even unto the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.  This family went to Gedor seeking pasture for their flocks.  People today still relocate sometimes looking for a better or easier life, but more than anything, we should be willing to go where God calls us.  Verse forty continues, And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for they of Ham had dwelt there of old.  They found a good pasture where the land was quiet and peaceable.  We are told it is the land where Ham dwelled long ago.  We may or may not find a place of peace where life is easy, but if we do, we need to make sure that it is where God wants us to be.  Verse forty-one says, And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and smote their tents, and the habitations that were found there, and destroyed them utterly unto this day, and dwelt in their rooms: because there was pasture there for their flocks.  This was during the reign of Hezekiah, and these princes destroyed the people there, where there had been peace and quiet, and took possession of all that they had, since it was good pastureland.  They saw what someone else had and killed them to take it for their own, without any command from God to do so that we are given.  People still too often see what others have and take or try to take it for their own, but this should not be the action of God's people.  We are to rely on God to supply us with what we need, but we too often want more.  Verse forty-two adds, And some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.  The sons of Simeon took five hundred men to Mount Seir.  I don't think they went there for pastureland, but because the rulers of the area were there.  Verse forty-three continues, And they smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped, and dwelt there unto this day.  These five hundred killed the rest of the Amalekites living there and took possession of the land.  We can never justify taking what belongs to others just because it is desirable, and we want it.

1 Chronicles 4:24

1 Chronicles 4:24 says, The sons of Simeon were, Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul:  We have the list of Simeon's sons.  Matthew Henry points out that God blesses some families with more children than others.  I believe all children are a blessing from God.  Verse twenty-five adds, Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.  Then we are given some of his grand children's names.  Verse twenty-six continues, And the sons of Mishma; Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, Shimei his son.  Verse twenty-seven states, And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters: but his brethren had not many children, neither did all their family multiply, like to the children of Judah.  If all Simeons descendants had as many children as Shimei, that would explain why they were a large part of Israel.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And they dwelt at Beersheba, and Moladah, and Hazarshual,  Verse twenty-nine continues, And at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,  Verse thirty says, And at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,  Verse thirty-one adds, And at Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusim, and at Bethbirei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities unto the reign of David.  Verse thirty-two continues, And their villages were, Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities:  Verse thirty-three concludes, And all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal. These were their habitations, and their genealogy.  It is mentioned that they were devoted to Baal, and not to God.  Matthew Henry says that when David became king, they left these cities when ten tribes revolted, since these cities were a part of Judah.  We should never abandon our place in God's kingdom, and if we are a born-again believer, we never really will.  God secures us as His, but this isn't a license to sin.

1 Chronicles 4:11

1 Chronicles 4:11 says, And Chelub the brother of Shuah begat Mehir, which was the father of Eshton.  Matthew Henry says these are the family of craftsmen.  Today, children sometimes follow in their parents' footsteps in what they do as an occupation, but what we need to pray for is that they will follow in our footsteps as Christians.  Verse twelve adds, And Eshton begat Bethrapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Irnahash. These are the men of Rechah.  These first few were called the men of Rechah, which was a city about three miles from Jerusalem.  Verse thirteen continues, And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of Othniel; Hathath.  Verse fourteen states, And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen.  Here, we are first told that these people became craftsmen, though Matthew Henry had already stated that they were.  Verse fifteen adds,  And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh; Iru, Elah, and Naam: and the sons of Elah, even Kenaz.  Verse sixteen continues, And the sons of Jehaleleel; Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.  Verse seventeen says, And the sons of Ezra were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.  Verse eighteen adds, And his wife Jehudijah bare Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. And these are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, which Mered took.  We are told of one of the men of Judah who married the daughter of Pharoah, which I don't believe would have been in God's will.  The people of Israel were to keep themselves separate from the rest of the world. We today are to go into the world, but we are still warned to not marry non-Christians.  Verse nineteen continues, And the sons of his wife Hodiah the sister of Naham, the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite.  Verse twenty concludes, And the sons of Shimon were, Amnon, and Rinnah, Benhanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were, Zoheth, and Benzoheth.  Verse twenty-one states, The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were, Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea,  These men were said to have worked in fine linens, which would be a craftsman trade.  Verse twenty-two adds, And Jokim, and the men of Chozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubilehem. And these are ancient things.  This group was said to have dominion in Moab in ancient times.  Matthew Henry says it was probably during David's time that they moved to Israel.  None of us are born Christians, but we must become a part of God's family by putting our faith in Jesus Christ. So, we all come from somewhere other than God's family and then become a part of it and this has been true from the beginning.  He has always been the only way to salvation.  Verse twenty -three continues, These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.  These men were noted for being potters and they dwelled with the king to do his work.  Whatever God calls us to do in life, we must dwell in His will and do everything for His glory.

1 Chronicles 4:!

1 Chronicles 4:1 says, The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.  Matthew Henry gives Ezra credit for listing the descendants of Judah, since they lasted longer than the rest of Israel in the Promised Land and were the ones to return out of captivity while the others were lost in the kingdom of Babylon.  We should hope that as followers of Christ, we would never lose our obedience to Him, but if we do that we would be the first to return to Him and not be lost to the world of sin.  Of course, if we are truly saved by faith in Jesus Christ, we will never be spiritually lost forever.  Verse two adds, And Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat Ahumai, and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites. Verse three continues, And these were of the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi:  Verse four concludes, And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem.  We are told that these are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, and his descendants, and that he was the father, or establisher, of Bethlehem.  Verse five states, And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.  Once more, we have one of the men of Israel having more than one wife.  This seemed quite common in the Old Testament, though it was never God's plan, and was even in opposition to His plan.  We cannot justify going against God's commandments just because everyone else may be doing it.  Verse six adds, And Naarah bare him Ahuzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.  First, we are told the sons of Ashur with Naarah.  Verse seven continues, And the sons of Helah were, Zereth, and Jezoar, and Ethnan.  Then, we have the sons of Ashur and Helah listed.  We really aren't told which one he married first.  Verse eight concludes, And Coz begat Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.  Verse nine says, And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.  Matthew Henry points out that we are not told the name of the father of Jabez, but are told that he was more honorable than his brethren.  Again, I will say that who our parents are is unimportant in our relationship to Jesus Christ, but once we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, we need to be known as honorable men and women.  Verse ten adds, And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.  We hear a lot about the prayer of Jabez, usually to promote asking God for more in life, but I believe the key to his prayer is asking that God be with him and keep him committed to God to keep him from doing evil things.  Material things would just pass away, but his relationship with God will last forever, as will ours.