1 Chronicles 5:9

“And eastward he inhabited, etc.] Either Bela, or the tribe of Reuben: unto the entering in of the wilderness; the wilderness of Kedemoth, which was near to Sihon king of Heshbon, whose land the Reubenites inhabited, (<050226>Deuteronomy 2:26) from the river Euphrates; a learned man f41 thinks that this river Phrat was different from the Euphrates near Babylon, which was northward, since this was to the east or southeast: because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead; therefore their habitation was extended further, even to the river Euphrates, as in the days of David and Solomon, (<100803>2 Samuel 8:3 <110421>1 Kings 4:21).”

“Eastward he inhabited unto the entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates--The settlement was on the east of Jordan, and the history of this tribe, which never took any part in the public affairs or movements of the nation, is comprised in "the multiplication of their cattle in the land of Gilead," in their wars with the Bedouin sons of Hagar, and in the simple labors of pastoral life. They had the right of pasture over an extensive mountain range--the great wilderness of Kedemoth (Deu 2:26) and the Euphrates being a security against their enemies.”

“He inhabited - i. e. Reuben. Eastward the Reubenites inhabited as far as the commencement of the great Syrian Desert, which extended all the way from the river Euphrates to their borders. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Euphrates - From Jordan and the wilderness beyond it unto Euphrates. Or, of the wilderness, which lies towards or reacheth to the river Euphrates, namely, the great wilderness of Kedemoth, Deu 2:26, which was extended far and wide towards Euphrates: for that was the eastern border of Reuben's possession, and not Euphrates, to which their habitation never reached. Multiplied - Which forced them to enlarge their habitation as far as they could towards Euphrates. 1 Chronicles 5:10”

“unto the entering: That is, unto the borders of Arabia Deserta, which extends to the Euphrates. Euphrates: Ch1 18:3; Gen 2:14; Kg2 24:7 because: Jos 22:8, Jos 22:9 Gilead: Ch1 5:16; Ch1 26:31; Gen 31:23; Jos 22:9; Kg1 17:1 1 Chronicles 5:10”

“"Eastward to the coming to the desert (i.e., till towards the desert) from the river Euphrates," i.e., to the great Arabico-Syrian desert, which stretches from the Euphrates to the eastern frontier of Perea, or from Gilead to the Euphrates. Bela's family had spread themselves so far abroad, "for their herds were numerous in the land of Gilead," i.e., Perea, the whole trans-Jordanic domain of the Israelites. 1 Chronicles 5:10”