1 Chronicles 5:22

For there fell downe many slaine, because the warre was of God. And they dwelt in their steads vntil the captiuity. 1 Chronicles 5:22 (KJV)

The verse concludes a section of 1 Chronicles that records the activities of the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half‑tribe of Manasseh. Earlier in the chapter (verses 1‑17) the genealogies of these tribes are listed, and verses 18‑21 describe how they settled in the region of Gilead and engaged in battle with the Hagrites. The conflict resulted in a decisive victory for Israel, and the text states that the Lord gave the Israelites a great slaughter of their enemies. The wording of the verse—”because the war was of God”—is understood to indicate that divine intervention secured the triumph, not that God originated the war itself. Rather, God allowed the battle to occur and intervened on behalf of His people, granting them the overwhelming defeat of their foes.

The victory enabled the Israelites to take possession of the Hagrites’ land. The tribes, described as valiant and able‑bodied warriors, settled in the conquered territory and made their homes there. The phrase “they dwelt in their steads until the captivity” points to the period of stability that lasted until the later Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, commonly referred to as the captivity. This settlement underscores the biblical theme that God’s aid was instrumental in Israel’s military successes and that the promised land was to be inhabited by His chosen people.

The passage therefore highlights two complementary truths: first, that the slaughter of the enemy was attributed to God’s direct action, and second, that the resulting occupation of the land persisted until the historic exiles. It serves as a reminder that the victories and the subsequent habitation of the land were ultimately grounded in divine provision and intervention, reinforcing the broader biblical narrative of God’s faithful involvement in the affairs of His people.