and the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid: Gad and Asher; these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram. Cf Genesis 29:30. Benjamin is enumerated with the other sons of Jacob for the sake of completeness, although he was not born in Padanaram, yet before Jacob's actual return to the home of his father. Jacob was now formally to enter upon his inheritance, and therefore his sons are mentioned by name, as the fathers of the people of Israel.

And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob. The name signifies "the holder of the heel," "the cunning one," because he was supposed to have taken advantage of his brother thus early in life. And Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

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