Who was Reaiah in the Bible?

Reaiah was a member of the tribe of Reuben, listed as a son of Micah in the genealogical records. His mention serves to trace the lineage and family divisions within the Reubenite tribe (1 Chronicles 5:5).

Why is Reaiah mentioned in the Bible?

Reaiah is mentioned to preserve the genealogical record of the tribe of Reuben, establishing its continuity and heritage. These records were crucial for understanding Israel's tribal history and land inheritances.

Are there any stories or key events about Reaiah's life?

No specific stories or events about Reaiah's life are recorded in the Bible. He appears only in a genealogical list, which was his primary significance for historical record-keeping.

Reaiah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleSon

Reaiah was a Reubenite, the son of Micah, mentioned in the genealogy of the tribe of Reuben.

Reaiah

Biography

Reaiah was a member of the tribe of Reuben, identified as the son of Micah in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles 5:5. His lineage is traced through Joel and Shemaiah, connecting him to the broader Reubenite clan that settled in the Transjordan region east of the Dead Sea. The Reubenites occupied territory stretching from the Arnon River northward, land originally conquered from the Amorite king Sihon. As part of the firstborn tribe of Israel (Reuben being Jacob's eldest son), this clan held a historically significant though often troubled position among the tribes. Reaiah's descendant Beerah was a chief of the Reubenites who was carried into exile by the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser, marking the end of Reubenite autonomy in their ancestral lands.

Significance

Reaiah's place in the Reubenite genealogy serves the Chronicler's purpose of documenting the tribal structures of Israel before the Assyrian and Babylonian deportations scattered the nation. The tribe of Reuben, though descended from Jacob's firstborn, lost its preeminence due to Reuben's transgression (Genesis 49:3-4; 1 Chronicles 5:1), a pattern that illustrates the biblical principle that birthright and privilege do not guarantee blessing apart from faithfulness. The fact that Reaiah's line eventually ended in exile underscores the consequences of the Transjordan tribes' spiritual decline, which 1 Chronicles 5:25-26 attributes to their unfaithfulness to the God of their fathers.

Verse Appearances (1)

1Chr

1Chr 5:5

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

Content compiled from public domain scholarship, academic sources, and verified references. Editorial standards · View all sources