1 Chronicles 5 26

1 Chronicles 5:26 kjv

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.

1 Chronicles 5:26 nkjv

So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He carried the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into captivity. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan to this day.

1 Chronicles 5:26 niv

So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), who took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan, where they are to this day.

1 Chronicles 5:26 esv

So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, the spirit of Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and he took them into exile, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this day.

1 Chronicles 5:26 nlt

So the God of Israel caused King Pul of Assyria (also known as Tiglath-pileser) to invade the land and take away the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh as captives. The Assyrians exiled them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the Gozan River, where they remain to this day.

1 Chronicles 5 verses

1 Chronicles 5 26 Meaning

1 Chronicles 5:26 details how the God of Israel actively stirred up the spirits of two Assyrian kings, Pul and Tilgath-pilneser, to accomplish His divine will. As a consequence of the tribes' unfaithfulness, these kings then forcibly deported the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh from their lands. They were exiled to specific regions within Assyria, namely Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan. The verse notes this displacement lasted "to this very day," indicating the enduring nature of this judgment and exile from the chronicler's perspective. This act underscores God's sovereign control over nations and their rulers to administer covenant curses against His people when they persist in sin.

1 Chronicles 5 26 Context

1 Chronicles chapter 5 focuses on the genealogies of the transjordanian tribes: Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Uniquely within these otherwise dry lists, the chronicler pauses in verses 25-26 to provide a significant historical and theological explanation for the fate of these tribes. Verse 25 explicitly states their sin: they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers, prostituting themselves to other gods of the land's peoples whom God had destroyed before them. This deep theological reason sets the stage for God's action in verse 26.

Historically, this event corresponds to the mid-8th century BC, during the rise of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Pul, also known as Tiglath-Pileser III (reigned 745-727 BC), was a formidable Assyrian monarch who significantly expanded the empire's territory and refined the brutal policy of mass deportation of conquered peoples. The transjordanian tribes (Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh) bordered directly on routes of Assyrian expansion, making them early targets. Their exile predates the final fall of Samaria and the complete subjugation of the Northern Kingdom of Israel by Shalmaneser V and Sargon II. The chronicler, likely writing centuries later, includes the phrase "to this very day" to underscore the enduring and irreversible nature of this judgment and the complete disappearance of these specific tribes from their homeland, in contrast to Judah's later return from Babylonian exile.

1 Chronicles 5 26 Word analysis

• So the God of Israel:

  • God: 'Elohim (אֱלֹהִים), generic term for God, but here, linked with "Israel," refers to YHWH, the covenant Lord who is actively involved in His people's history and their destiny. It highlights His particular relationship and sovereign oversight.
  • of Israel: Emphasizes that even when dealing with unfaithful Israel, He remains their covenant God, administering justice according to His established terms. He is not detached from their affairs.

• stirred up: Ya'ar (יָעַר), Qal stem, meaning "to rouse, excite, stir up." This verb strongly indicates God's direct, intentional, and active causation. He is not merely observing but initiating and influencing events. It highlights divine agency.

• the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, even the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria:

  • spirit: Ruach (רוּחַ), refers to the inner disposition, will, or motivation of a person. God directly influenced the decision-making and intentions of these foreign rulers.
  • Pul king of Assyria, even the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria: These refer to the same individual. "Pul" was likely his personal name, and "Tiglath-pilneser III" (Biblical "Tilgath-pilneser") was his throne name. The Chronicler provides both names, demonstrating historical accuracy and confirming the specific monarch involved. The repetition emphasizes God's double impact on the one ruler. Assyria was a cruel, idolatrous empire; God's use of them highlights His sovereignty over all nations, even those hostile to Him, to fulfill His purposes.

• and he carried them away:

  • carried them away: Heglah (הֶגְלָה), Hiphil stem, meaning "to lead into exile, deport." This term precisely describes the Assyrian policy of forcibly removing conquered populations and relocating them to break their identity and potential for rebellion. It signifies forced migration due to a punitive act.

• even the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh:

  • the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh: These are the transjordanian tribes, settled east of the Jordan River. They were the most vulnerable to Assyrian incursions from the north. Their explicit mention underscores the historical specificity and scope of this exile.

• and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and to the river Gozan:

  • Halah, Habor, Hara, and to the river Gozan: These are specific geographical locations within the Assyrian Empire, east of Mesopotamia, in what is today parts of Iraq and Iran. Their precise naming lends credibility and historical grounding to the account. This demonstrates where the exiles were settled, dispersing them within the empire.

• to this very day: 'Ad ha-yom ha-zeh (עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה). This temporal phrase indicates that from the perspective of the chronicler's writing, these tribes remained in exile and had not returned to their original territories, signifying the permanent loss of their tribal lands as a direct result of God's judgment. It contrasts with the later return of Judah from Babylonian captivity.

1 Chronicles 5 26 Bonus section

• The chronicler's primary purpose in highlighting this exile was theological, emphasizing that disobedience to God's covenant commands inevitably leads to severe consequences. This serves as a vital lesson for post-exilic Judah to remain faithful.
• The use of a foreign, tyrannical king as God's instrument demonstrates that God's sovereignty extends beyond Israel and His chosen people, encompassing all nations and their leaders. This underlines His cosmic rule.
• This early exile of the northern tribes contrasts with Judah's later Babylonian exile, which had a designated period and a promise of return. The mention of "to this very day" suggests the "lostness" of these ten tribes.
• The verse indirectly shows that God is sovereign over human free will and the actions of wicked individuals without diminishing their accountability for their choices. Tiglath-Pileser still freely pursued his empire's agenda, but God integrated it into His own.

1 Chronicles 5 26 Commentary

1 Chronicles 5:26 stands as a profound statement on divine sovereignty, covenant consequences, and historical execution of judgment. It clarifies that the tragic exile of the eastern Israelite tribes was not merely a geopolitical outcome of Assyrian aggression but a direct act of God. Their sin of unfaithfulness, outlined in the preceding verse, invoked the covenant curses, leading the "God of Israel" Himself to intervene. He did not simply permit the exile; He actively "stirred up" the will of even pagan kings like Pul/Tiglath-pilneser III. This illustrates that all human rulers, even the most powerful and ruthless, are instruments in God's hands, serving His overarching plan for history and His people. The verse highlights the gravity of covenant unfaithfulness, as the divine judgment was both comprehensive (encompassing entire tribes) and enduring ("to this very day"). The specific details of the tribes and their destination ground the theological message in historical reality, serving as a solemn warning against idolatry and apostasy, and reaffirming God's absolute authority over human affairs.