Justin Houtz

1 Chronicles 5, John 15

DateVersionReading Plan
December 9, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

1 Chronicles 5

Observation & Interpretation

1 Chron. 5:1-2 – Reuben was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s couch, the birthright went to Joseph.

  • Because Reuben slept with his father’s concubine, he was not given the preeminence typically due the firstborn son…The birthright was given to Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob (Gen. 48:15-22)

1 Chron. 5:11 – The Chronicler speaks of how the sons of Gad “lived over against then in the land of Bashan as far as Salecah.”

  • Who is the “them” – Reuben
  • The tribe of Gad lived north of the tribe of Reuben.

1 Chron. 5:18 – The Reubenites, Gadites and half-tribe of Manasseh had valiant men, able to go to war.

  • The eastern tribes combined forces in a number of military victories, and they accumulated a large amount of plunder. (CSB Notes)

1 Chron. 5:20 – The Transjordan tribes cried out to God when other nations went to war against them and He granted their urgent plea.

  • As with the prayer of Jabez (1 Chron.4:10…), the Chronicler emphasizes that God answers prayers. See Numbers 32:33…(FSB)

1 Chron. 5:25 – The Chronicler describes how the Transjordan tribes broke faith with the God of their fathers and whored after the gods of the people of the land.

  • The Chronicler attributes this first phase of the Assyrian exile to the tribes’ breach of faith, using the Hebrew ma’al …[which] indicates a violation of covenant trust (e.g. Lev. 5:15). It is used to describe adultery in terms of a woman being unfaithful to her husband (Num. 5:12, 17). More often, however, it is used to describe idolatry or unfaithfulness to Yahweh (e.g., Deut. 32:5; Josh. 7:1). The word is used throughout Chronicles (e.g., 1 Chron. 2:7; 2 Chron. 12:2; 26:16-18) and is listed as the reason for the exile (1 Chron. 5:25; 2 Chron. 36:14-21).

John 15

Observation & Interpretation

John 15:2 – Jesus spoke of how every branch that is in Him that does not bear fruit is taken away by the Father.

  • There are branches in Jesus that do not bear fruit and are thus taken away by the Father.
  • Opinions differ as to what is meant by the branch in Him that does not bear fruit. Some think this is a false professor…Others think it is a true Christian who loses his salvation because of his failure to bear fruit. This is clearly impossible because it contradicts so many other passages which teach that the believer has an eternal salvation. Others think that it is a true Christian who becomes a backslider. (BBC)

John 15:8 – The Father is glorified by our bearing much fruit and prove to be Jesus’ disciples.

  • As the children of God exhibit the likeness of Christ to the world, the Father is glorified. People are forced to confess that He must be a great God when He can transform such wicked sinners into such godly saints. Notice the progression in this chapter: fruit (v.2), more fruit (v. 2), much fruit (v. 8). (BBC)

John 15:20 – Jesus references a previous word He had spoken to them—that a servant is not greater than his master—in the context of persecution.

  • Here servant literally means “slave”. A disciple should not expect any better treatment from the world than his master received. He will be persecuted just as Christ was. His word will be refused just as the Savior’s was. (BBC)

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