Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 8. These are the names of the children of Israel] It may be necessary to observe here, First, that several of these names are expressed differently elsewhere, Jemuel for Nemuel, Jachin for Jarib, Gershon for Gershom, &c.; compare Num. xxvi. 12; 1 Chron. iv. 24. But it is no uncommon case for the same person to have different names, or the same name to be differently pronounced; See on ""chap. xxv. 18"".
Secondly, that it is probable that some names in this list are brought in by prolepsis or anticipation, as the persons were born (probably) during the seventeen years which Jacob sojourned in Egypt, see ver. 12.
Thirdly, that the families of some are entered more at large than others because of their peculiar respectability, as in the case of Judah, Joseph, and Benjamin; but see the tables under verse 20. See at ""ver. 20"".
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-27 - We have here a particular account of Jacob's family. Though the fulfilling of promises is always sure, yet it is often slow. It was no 215 years since God had promised Abraham to make of him a great nation ch. 12:2; yet that branch of his seed, to which the promise was mad sure, had only increased to seventy, of whom this particular account i kept, to show the power of God in making these seventy become a vas multitude.
Original Hebrew ואלה428 שׁמות8034 בני1121 ישׂראל3478 הבאים935 מצרימה4714 יעקב3290 ובניו1121 בכר1060 יעקב3290 ראובן׃7205
