18. The sons of Reuben, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had warriors, men armed with shield and sword who could handle the bow and were trained for war, to the number of forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty fit for service.
Chapter 5 of 1 chronicles begins with Rúben's genealogy, Jacob's firstborn. Then the chapter reports the War of the Children of Rúben, Gade and the Half Tribe of Manasseh against the Hagarens. Following are five verses related to the topics addressed in 1 chronicles 5:
Numbers 32:1: "The sons of Rúben and the children of Gade had a large number of cattle. Seeing that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for breeding animals," this verse is important to understand the situation of material prosperity of the children of Rúben and Gade and how it influenced the choice of their lands.
Joshua 22:10: "When they arrived in the Gelilote, in the land of Canaan, the sons of Rúben, the sons of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built a large altar in the sight of the Israelites." This verse reports an action that displeased the rest of the Israelites, for they interpreted as an act of rebellion and infidelity to the covenant with God.
Numbers 32:20: "Moses answered them, If you do this, if you prepare for the war, and pass armed before the Lord," this verse is a response from Moses to the tribes of Rúben and Gade, who asked to stay with the Lands conquered east of Jordan, but without fighting the other tribes.
1 Samuel 13:14: "But now thy kingdom shall not subsist; the Lord has sought for himself a man according to his heart, and has already ordered him to be a prince upon his people, since you have not kept what the Lord had commanded you." This verse is a reference to the reign of Saul, who has lost Israel's leadership for disobeying God. In 1 Chronicles 5:25, the chapter mentions that the sons of Gade inhabited the land of Golhan, which was one of the places where Saul was buried.
Isaiah 9:1: "But there will be a day when darkness will no longer have place in the land of Zebulom and Naphtali. Those who suffer now will be wrapped in a great light. Just as the light shines in the darkness, thus shining a great light on this land. " This verse talks about the restoration of the land of Zebulom and Naphtali, which were places of great suffering for the people of Israel, but will be awarded a great light. Chapter 5 of 1 Chronicles mentions that the children of Rúben, Gade and the Messés Half Tribe had land in Gilead, which was part of the Zebulom and Naphtali region.
“Deus ama quem segue o caminho da virtude.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
