The Eastern Tribes

All the Rest of Israel – Part 2: Living the Dream on the Other Side of the Jordan

(1 Chronicles 5:1-26, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, July 23, 2017)

[1] The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, so that he could not be enrolled as the oldest son; [2] though Judah became strong among his brothers and a chief came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph), [3] the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. [4] The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son, [5] Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son, [6] Beerah his son, whom Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria carried away into exile; he was a chief of the Reubenites. [7] And his kinsmen by their clans, when the genealogy of their generations was recorded: the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah, [8] and Bela the son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel, who lived in Aroer, as far as Nebo and Baal-meon. [9] He also lived to the east as far as the entrance of the desert this side of the Euphrates, because their livestock had multiplied in the land of Gilead. [10] And in the days of Saul they waged war against the Hagrites, who fell into their hand. And they lived in their tents throughout all the region east of Gilead.

[11] The sons of Gad lived over against them in the land of Bashan as far as Salecah: [12] Joel the chief, Shapham the second, Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan. [13] And their kinsmen according to their fathers' houses: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia and Eber, seven. [14] These were the sons of Abihail the son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz. [15] Ahi the son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was chief in their fathers' houses, [16] and they lived in Gilead, in Bashan and in its towns, and in all the pasturelands of Sharon to their limits. [17] All of these were recorded in genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel. [18] The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had valiant men who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, expert in war, 44,760, able to go to war. [19] They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. [20] And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him. [21] They carried off their livestock: 50,000 of their camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men alive. [22] For many fell, because the war was of God. And they lived in their place until the exile.

[23] The members of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land. They were very numerous from Bashan to Baal-hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. [24] These were the heads of their fathers' houses: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty warriors, famous men, heads of their fathers' houses. [25] 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. [26] 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.

Two and a half of the twelve tribes of Israel ended up having their allotment of land not in Israel proper, but east of the Jordan River. How did that happen? The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh were granted that territory by Moses because they requested it. They said that it was perfect land for their livestock. They agreed to fight with their brothers throughout the coming conquest of The Promised Land. They would then return home on the other side of the river. For a while they were zealous to be regarded as part of Israel and true worshipers of God. (See also Numbers 32 and Joshua 22.) Yet how would they do over the years that would follow with the geographic barrier of a river separating them from the rest of the nation? Not well. They would be among the first ones who would be defeated by the Assyrian king and taken into exile.

[1] The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel

Reuben was the oldest son of Jacob, and should have had the largest inheritance, but he lost his preeminence by his strange impropriety with one of Jacob's concubines, who was the mother of two other tribes in Israel. (See also Genesis 35:22, 49:3-4.) The rights of the firstborn would go to Joseph, through his two sons. Judah would be the tribe of kings, but Ephraim and Manasseh would carry on the prominence of Joseph according to Jacob's own words and actions. Reuben's orientation would be eastward for more land rather than westward toward Jerusalem.

[11] The sons of Gad

The tribe of Gad was descended from Jacob and Leah's handmaid, Zilpah. After including some of the significant names still known by the Chronicler, the author wrote of lessons learned through their military engagements. They were strong in battle when they “cried out to God in the battle” and “trusted in him.”

[23] The members of the half-tribe of Manasseh

The final half tribe was descended from Joseph's son, Manasseh. Half of this tribe settled on the West Bank of the Jordan, but we are looking at the part of the tribe that stayed with Reuben and Gad to the east. While they had “mighty warriors, famous men, heads of their fathers' houses” in their number, they, with so many others, “broke faith” with God and worshiped idols that were from the nations that God had cast out of the land. Their exile was not an accident of history. We are told in this summary of their story that “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” far from their homes to distant lands where they still lived at the time when the Chronicler was writing his account.

Jesus and the Church on the Other Side of the River

Boundaries create divisions between one side of the river and the other. Man makes his plans most often based on concerns for his own desire for property and not often enough based on divine mission and spiritual well-being. Though the Transjordan tribes could make a good case to Moses and Joshua regarding their motives, over the years they risked wandering from God.

In the days of ancient Israel, these tribes lived on the wrong side of the Jordan. Living on the “other side of the river” is a state of mind for New Testament Christians. On one hand, we all live in Babylon, yet we are citizens of the Jerusalem above. It's complicated.

As New Testament believers, Jesus is our model for staying near to Jerusalem in our hearts, but also being willing to die in the land of exile if that's what it takes to fulfill the mission that God has ordained for us. Jesus never broke faith with His Father. He has become our righteousness, our salvation, and our guide through life. We need to set our hearts on things above and serve the Lord here below, “outside the camp.” See Hebrews 13 and Romans 12.

When we have finished running the race that God has mapped for us, we will cross a divide that is far more daunting than the Jordan River. Our Chief from the tribe of Judah has gone before us and is coming again to establish His perfect resurrection kingdom. When that day comes, we shall all be one in every way. Perfect in heart, no more wrong side of the tracks for us or any of God's family, and entirely safe from exile, we will no longer struggle with the vestiges of Babylon in our hearts. Even now we have Christ in us. He is the hope of glory, and will lead us.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 23 – The Shepherd of God's Elect in the House of the Lord

Gospel Reading—Matthew 8:23-27 – [23] And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. [24] And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. [25] And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” [26] And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. [27] And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Monday Morning Clarity:

The tribes that settled to the east of the Jordan (Reuben, Gad, East Manasseh) were all once very sure that they wanted Yahweh, and that their quest for good pasture lands would not keep them from holy devotion to Him. But over the centuries they lost sight of the God of Israel and His divine mission for them, and they fell into the dark pit of idolatry. They were the first tribes to be sent into exile by the Assyrians.

What was the mission God had for them?

1. Worship.

2. Continue in the conquest of the Promised Land, and don't go all pagan in creation worship.

What is the mission that God has for us?

1. Worship (Exodus 20:1-11, Hebrews 10:19-25)

2. Continue in the new "conquest" of the world (Romans 12), and don't go all pagan in creation worship.

Our "conquest" includes:

1. The Creation Mandate Conquest (Genesis 1:28 and 1 Corinthians 10:31)

2. The Great Commission and Sanctification Conquest (Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Thessalonians 4:3a)

Jesus puts these all together not only for our justification, but also as the perfect model for our lives. Hebrews 13:7-16 presents us with an inspiring pattern for the New Testament church in every place and time. "Jesus also suffered outside the camp." He went, as it were, to the wrong side of the river when He died on the cross outside the city wall of Jerusalem. We go to Him when we live out our divine mission "outside the camp and bear the reproach that He endured." Why not just flee to some Jerusalem and stay there? We can do that, but there is no safe space for us like that under the sun. "For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." The only real security for us is to have the true Jerusalem living within us as we serve Him in this present Babylon.