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Verse 1. First-born. Genesis 49:4. Worthington.—He gives this reason for not beginning with him. Calmet.—And he. Prot. “and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birth-right.” Bible.
EXPLANATIONS
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Historical chapter commentary
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Verse 2. Accounted to Joseph, that is as to the double portion, which belonged to the first-born: but the princely dignity was given to Juda, and the priesthood to Levi. Challoner.—Yet it is not certain that the latter dignity formed a part of the birth-right, (Genesis 25:31) and the author takes no notice of it. Calmet.—The double portion seems to have been all the privilege. Deuteronomy 21:17. Septuagint “the blessing or gift was Joseph’s.” Hebrew also does not specify princes, but “the leader,” ( Bible.) the Messias, (Syr. and so forth) and kings, from David till the captivity. Calmet. Genesis 49:4. Worthington.
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Verse 4. Joel. It does not appear whether he was the son of the last, or of Henoch.
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Verse 6. Beera, This tribe continued to have princes of their own, after the division of the kingdom. Beera was in power when Thelgathphalnasar, or Theglathphalasar, took five tribes into captivity. 4 Kennicott. 15:29. Only twelve generations are mentioned to fill up about 750 years, from the leaving of Egypt. Calmet.—But Enoch must have lived much sooner, as the Israelites continued in that country at least 215 years. The princes are probably not all specified, as on other occasions. Bible.
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Verse 7. Families, when they were led captive into Assyria; ( Menochius.) or before, when the tribe was in a most flourishing condition.—Princes. Hebrew and Septuagint “prince.”—Jehiel. Septuagint “Joel,” verse 4.
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Verse 8. And. So Hebrew and so forth as f he was one of the princes. But the Vulg. seems to begin a new sentence, Porro, “now Bala.” The possessions of this man must have been very extensive, from the Euphrates till ( Bible.) Baal-meon, within nine miles of Hesebon, (Eus.) almost ( Calmet.) as far as the Jordan. Tirinus.—Bala, or his descendants, extended their conquests as far as the Euphrates, which had been promised to Israel; and, under Saul, conquered the Agarites, who sprung from Agar. Syr. and so forth “the Arabs of Sacca,” or the Scenites, “dwelling under tents,” and inhabiting the Desert Arabia. The details of this war are probably given, verse 19, and so forth Calmet.
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Verse 9. Cattle, for which reason they desired to have this country. Numbers 32:4. Menochius.
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Verse 11. Selcha, not far from Jabok. Deuteronomy 3:10. Calmet.
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Verse 12. Chief, (in capite.) Septuagint “first-born.” Bible.—This list was made under Joathan, king of Juda, when Joel was at the head of the tribe of Gad. Calmet.—Basan, the capital city, verse 16. Sa. Menochius.
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Verse 15. And, and so forth Hebrew also, “Achi, son of Abdiel.”—Chief, like the preceding, each in their respective families. Calmet.—They were relations ( Bible.) of the same tribe. Menochius.
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Verse 16. Saron, in Basan; (Joshua 12:18) different from those vallies near Joppe, ( Calmet.) and between Thabor and Tiberias. Euseb.
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Verse 17. Israel. Jeroboam II. had been dead two years before Joathan was born: unless some of the numbers be incorrect; which seem very probable. 4 Kennicott. 15:5. Yet these registers might be made at different times, and one, perhaps, under Jeroboam I. as when any war seemed to threaten, the number of soldiers was to be known. Calmet.—It does not appear why the king of Juda is mentioned, as the people were not under his dominion, unless ( Bible.) he was contemporary with Jeroboam II. as some assert. Menochius.—Yet the following expedition seems to have taken place while Israel was still faithful to God. Bible. By faith they overcame kingdoms. Hebrews 11. Worthington.
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Verse 19. But, and so forth Hebrew “and Jetur, and so forth (20) and they were helped by God against them.” Bible.—Septuagint “they prevailed over them, and the Agarites,” and so forth The ancient, or higher Iturea, lay between Hermon and Manasses; but the lower, which Josephus includes under this name, took in the deserted possessions of that half tribe. Calmet.—The former ( Bible.) extended from Jordan by Libanus, to the mountains of Tyre. Menochius.—And Naphis, sons of Ismael. Genesis 25:13. Bible.
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Verse 22. Lord. Very dreadful, and in obedience to God’s orders.—Captivity, verse 6. Calmet.
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Verse 23. Basan, which belonged to Gad. Bible.—In Josue (17:5.) Basan and Galaad seem to be given to Manasses; but the former there denotes all the level country, from the Jabok to the Jordan, as Galaad is put for the mountains on the East. Calmet.—Great. It would take thirty hours to travel from the torrent Jabok to Baal Hermon. Adric. Menochius.
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Verse 26. Assur. These princes were scourges in the hand of God, to punish the guilty. Bible.—The former forced Israel to pay tribute; the latter carried many into captivity, 4 Kennicott. 15:19, 29 and 16:7. Calmet.—Lahela, or Hala and Haber, cities watered by the river Gozan.—Ara; perhaps Rages. Tobit 1:16, and so forth D.