[1752 BC, etc.] Verse 1:[1] These are the sons of Israel (or, Jacob); (Gen. 29:32; 30:5; 35:18, 22; 46:8, etc.) Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun…
[The sons of Israel, etc.] He here appears to follow the order of age, although it does not appear to agree altogether with the order in Genesis 35:23, etc. (Mariana).
Verse 2:[2] Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
Matthew Poole's Synopsis on Genesis 35:16-20: 'Verse 16:[1] And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was but a little way (Heb. a little piece of ground;[2] 2 Kings 5:19[3]) to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
[In the spring time, כִּבְרַת] The כ can be either part of the root, so that it would be from כָּבַר, to be much or many; or servile, which most of the Hebrews maintain, almost, or nearly, בְּרַת, a berath of land, from בָּרָה, to cut. Hence interpreters vary (Malvenda). 1. To some it indicates time, in the spring time; thus the Vulgate and others, as Rabbi Salomon in Fagius’ Comparison of the Principal Translations testifies. I d…
Matthew Poole's Synopsis on Genesis 30:3-24: 'Verse 3:[1] And she said, Behold (Gen. 16:2) my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; (Gen. 50:23; Job 3:12) and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her (Heb. be built by her;[2] Gen. 16:2[3]).
[That she might bear upon my knees] It appears that this is an ellipsis; that she might bear children to be placed upon my knees (Piscator). So that the son born of her, namely, my handmaid, I might take as my own, and (as mothers are accustomed to do, Isaiah 66:12) set him upon my knees (Lapide). So that I might bear him as my own, and lay him in my bosom (Bonfreriu…
Matthew Poole's Synopsis on Genesis 29:32-35: '[c. 1752 BC] Verse 32:[1] And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben (that is, see a son[2]): for she said, Surely the LORD hath (Ex. 3:7; 4:31; Deut. 26:7; Ps. 25:18; 106:44) looked[3] upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
[Reuben] See ye the son,[4] whom God, having mercy, gave to me (Menochius, Vatablus). Son of the vision, or of the providence of God, by which God provided for me with regard to a son. Being thus grateful unto God, the mother desired that even in the very name of her son a perpetual memory of the divine benefit should stand forth (Tirinus).
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John Gill: 'These are the sons of Israel,.... Or Jacob, the other son of Isaac, who had the name of Israel given him, because of his power with God, Genesis 32:28, whose twelve sons are here mentioned by name; the first four according to their birth of Leah, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; then the two sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, Issachar and Zebulun; and between Dan and Naphtali, the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, are placed Joseph and Benjamin, the sons of Rachel.'
Matthew Henry: 'Here is...The family of Jacob. His twelve sons are here named, that illustrious number so often celebrated almost throughout the whole Bible, from the first to the last book of it. At every turn we meet with the twelve tribes that descended from these twelve patriarchs. The personal character of several of them was none of the best (the first four were much blemished), and yet the covenant was entailed on their seed; for it was of grace, free grace, that it was said, Jacob have I loved; not of works, lest any man should boast.'