The genealogical section first traces the sons of Reuben for one generation (1 Chronicles 5:1–3). It then mentions the descendants of Joel up to the Assyrian exile (1 Chronicles 5:1–3). Finally, it lists a number of Reubenite chiefs (1 Chronicles 5:7–8). Only the immediate sons of Reuben appear elsewhere in Scripture (see Genesis 46:9; Exodus 6:14; Numbers 26:5–6). Beerah, a descendant of Joel (1 Chronicles 5:6) seems to mark the end of the Reubenite line when they were exiled by Tiglathpileser III (Tiglathpileser
here and in 2 Chronicles 28:20) during his campaign into Galilee and the Transjordan in 733–732 BC. This took place during the reign of Pekah (2 Kings 15:29). The whole area of Israelite Transjordan became the Assyrian province of Gal’azu, that is, Gilead or the land beyond the Jordan
(Isaiah 9:1).1 Many Reubenites were deported into exile, and this humiliating fact explained why Reuben did not appear important to the Chronicler’s readers.2
1 Fils de Ruben, premier-né d'Israël. Car il était le premier-né; mais, parce qu'il souilla la couche de son père, son droit d'aînesse fut donné aux fils de Joseph, fils d'Israël; toutefois Joseph ne dut pas être enregistré dans les généalogies comme premier-né.