1 Chronicles 5:26

Pul. Contemporary documents from Babylon identify Pulu, or Pul, as the Babylonian name of Tiglath-pileser. In the Canon of Ptolemy, Tiglath-pileser bears the name of Poros, a Greek modification of the Babylonian Pulu and the Biblical Pul (see Vol. II, pp. 61, 156, 157, 159). The singular form of the Hebrew verb here translated, “and he carried them away,” suggests that only one king and not two were involved. It is possible to translate the Hebrew word for “and” as “even.” This permits the rendering, “The God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, even the spirit of Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and he carried them away.” Thus translated this text supports what is believed to be convincing evidence from ancient documents that the Assyrian ruler, Tiglath-pileser, was the same king as Pul.

Reubenites. The subjugation and deportation of the ten northern tribes was accomplished in successive stages. The deportation of the Transjordanic tribes by Tiglath-pileser is here described. The same Assyrian king also invaded the territory of the northern tribes and carried its peoples into captivity (2 Kings 15:29). When Shalmaneser made his final assault on Samaria (2 Kings 18:9), only a feeble remnant remained (see on 2 Chron. 30:6).

Unto Halah, and Habor. These same places are mentioned in 2 Kings 17:6 as localities to which the Israelites were taken after the capture of Samaria in 722 B.C. Habor is believed to be another name for the river Khabur, which flows into the Euphrates. The Khabur Valley was the temporary residence of Abraham on his way to Canaan (see on Gen. 11:31).

Gozan. A city of Mesopotamia called by the Assyrians Guzanu. It is on the upper reaches of the Khabur River, about midway between Nineveh and Haran and is known today as Tell Halaf.