1 Chronicles 5 25

1 Chronicles 5:25 kjv

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.

1 Chronicles 5:25 nkjv

And they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers, and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.

1 Chronicles 5:25 niv

But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.

1 Chronicles 5:25 esv

But they broke faith with the God of their fathers, and whored after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.

1 Chronicles 5:25 nlt

But these tribes were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors. They worshiped the gods of the nations that God had destroyed.

1 Chronicles 5 verses

1 Chronicles 5 25 Meaning

This verse states the fundamental spiritual transgression of the Transjordanian tribes—Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh—explaining the divine reason for their eventual downfall and exile. It describes their unfaithfulness to God, manifest as "playing the harlot" or committing spiritual adultery, by adopting the worship of the false gods belonging to the surrounding pagan nations. This was a direct violation of their covenant with the One True God, particularly poignant because these were the very peoples and deities whom God Himself had previously overcome and dispossessed before Israel. Their sin was thus twofold: betraying the covenant and choosing impotent idols over the powerful God who had already demonstrated His supremacy.

1 Chronicles 5 25 Context

This verse serves as a crucial theological explanation within the genealogical record of the Transjordanian tribes (Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh) found in 1 Chronicles 5. The broader context of 1 Chronicles aims to reassure the post-exilic community of God's faithfulness and their identity as God's people, even after the trauma of exile. The Chronicler emphasizes that Israel's calamities, particularly the exile, were not due to God's weakness or abandonment, but directly resulted from their disobedience and covenant breaking.

Chapter 5 specifically details the inheritance, population, and military prowess of these eastern tribes (1 Chron 5:1-24), even noting their initial success in conquering Hagarite territory (1 Chron 5:18-22). Verse 25 abruptly pivots from their earthly strength and success to their spiritual failure. This dramatic shift highlights that no military might or territorial gain could protect them from the consequences of their unfaithfulness. The historical context includes periods where these tribes, geographically positioned between settled Israel and various eastern nations, were particularly susceptible to syncretism and idolatry. This verse sets the stage for their eventual captivity and scattering, as recounted in 1 Chronicles 5:26.

1 Chronicles 5 25 Word analysis

• But: (וַיִּמְעֲלוּ - vayyim'alu). This conjunction introduces a sharp contrast, shifting from the tribes' prosperity and numbers to their core transgression.
• they transgressed: (מָעֲלוּ - ma'alu). Root מָעַל (ma'al). This word implies acting faithlessly, treacherously, or committing a trespass or sacrilege, particularly in violation of a covenant or trust. It often carries the connotation of a serious breach of religious or civil obligation, involving an act against God Himself. It’s more than a simple sin; it's an act of unfaithfulness against an established relationship.
• against the God of their fathers: This phrase emphasizes the severity of their betrayal. "God of their fathers" (אֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם - Elohei Avoteihem) refers specifically to YHWH, the covenant God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It underscores that they turned away from the God who had established a special, intimate relationship with their ancestors and continually revealed Himself to their nation. This highlights both their spiritual heritage and their conscious rejection of it.
• and played the harlot: (וַיִּזְנוּ - vayiznu). From the root זָנָה (zanah), meaning to commit fornication or harlotry. In biblical theological language, especially with Israel and God, "playing the harlot" is a pervasive metaphor for spiritual infidelity, idolatry, and worshipping other gods. It portrays Israel's covenant relationship with YHWH as a marriage, where worshipping other deities is spiritual adultery, breaking the exclusivity of their bond. This term carries strong pejorative connotations, denoting both defilement and betrayal.
• after the gods: (אַחֲרֵי אֱלֹהֵי - acharei Elohei). Implies "following after," denoting pursuit and adoption of other gods as objects of worship and devotion. It signifies turning allegiance from YHWH to other deities.
• of the peoples of the land: Refers to the various pagan groups inhabiting the regions surrounding Israel, particularly the Canaanites, Amorites, and other peoples dispossessed by Israel (e.g., Ba'al, Asherah, Molech, Chemosh). This points to syncretism—the blending of YHWH worship with local pagan customs and deities—a recurrent problem for Israel.
• whom God had destroyed before them: This phrase is a crucial polemic against idolatry. It points out the absurdity and spiritual blindness of the tribes: they abandoned the mighty God who had victoriously judged and "destroyed" these very pagan nations and their gods, choosing instead to worship the powerless deities who could not even save their own adherents from God's wrath. This detail serves as a stark reminder of God's supreme power and the utter futility of idols.

1 Chronicles 5 25 Bonus section

The Chronicler's emphasis on Israel's sin as the direct cause of their exile (e.g., 2 Chron 36:15-16, 21) serves a vital pedagogical purpose for his original post-exilic audience. By attributing the exile not to God's weakness or arbitrariness but to Israel's deliberate unfaithfulness, particularly idolatry and treachery against their covenant with "the God of their fathers," the Chronicler aims to:

• Vindicate God's Justice: Show that God is righteous and consistent in His dealings, fulfilling His warnings and covenant stipulations.
• Call to Repentance: Implore the contemporary audience to learn from past mistakes and turn back to exclusive worship of YHWH to avoid future judgment.
• Reaffirm Identity: Remind them that despite exile, they remain the people of God, distinguished by their covenant relationship with YHWH and the exclusive worship He demands.
• Highlight Idolatry as Primal Sin: Throughout Chronicles, idolatry, alongside disobedience to the Law and neglecting temple worship, is presented as the foundational sin leading to national calamity. The vivid language of "playing the harlot" underscores its severe spiritual consequences as a breaking of sacred vows.

1 Chronicles 5 25 Commentary

1 Chronicles 5:25 provides the Chronicler's definitive theological explanation for the fate of the Transjordanian tribes, particularly their Assyrian exile mentioned in the following verse. It immediately follows an account of their numerical strength and military successes, creating a striking contrast that emphasizes the Chronicler's core message: spiritual fidelity, not earthly power, determines blessing and survival. The "transgression" and "playing the harlot" point to deep-seated covenant infidelity—a betrayal of their exclusive relationship with YHWH, the God of their ancestors. Their adoption of "the gods of the peoples of the land" was a direct violation of repeated divine commands against idolatry, highlighting their moral failure despite having witnessed God's power. The concluding phrase, "whom God had destroyed before them," underlines the ironic and profound foolishness of their choice. They exchanged the Living God, who had proven His omnipotence by utterly defeating these very false gods and their worshipers, for impotent idols. This narrative served as a potent warning and an interpretive lens for the post-exilic community, teaching that their past judgments were a direct consequence of national sin and that future restoration depended on absolute loyalty to God. This principle of cause-and-effect—sin leading to judgment, obedience to blessing—is central to the Chronicler's historical retelling.