דברי הימים א, פרק ה׳, פסוק ו׳

A major historical and political turning point in the history of Israel occurred during the first stage of the destruction of the Ten Tribes. At this time, Beera served as the prince and leader of the tribe of Reuben, holding his position exactly when his people were forced out of their homeland. This event marked the first wave of the exile, a period when the Assyrians destroyed the territories on the eastern side of the Jordan River, which belonged to Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh [רלב"ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The Assyrian campaign of destruction was carried out in deliberate stages. Historically, this progression is understood to be the work of several different kings ruling in succession: beginning with Pul, followed by Tilgath-pilneser, then Shalmaneser, and finally Sennacherib. In contrast, another tradition identifies all of these names as various titles for just one single Assyrian king, Sennacherib, who was responsible for the entire campaign [רש"י].