דברי הימים א, פרק ה׳, פסוק ד׳

Tracing the lineage of tribal leaders provides a window into the continuous chain of authority within the tribe of Reuben. The record centers on an unbroken succession of important figures, beginning with a man named Joel. Although Joel is a descendant of Reuben, his exact connection to the earlier family tree is not detailed [רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Rather, he is introduced simply to anchor the lineage of the descendants who came after him [רד״ק]. Joel was a chief of the tribe, and from his time onward, this leadership became a hereditary role. It passed from generation to generation, enduring all the way until the final leader was taken into the Assyrian exile [מלבי״ם].

The recorded names represent a chronological order of successive generations [רש״י]. By repeatedly listing a father followed directly by his son, the narrative emphasizes a direct chain of descent. Even if these men had multiple children, the record intentionally highlights only the primary sons who inherited the mantle of leadership and continued the central family line, a common approach in biblical genealogies [רד״ק].