Genesis 35:21

Israel Observe the employment of the new name as an alternative for Jacob, with especial frequency in the J narrative.

the tower of Eder i.e. "the tower of the flock." It is uncertain whether "Eder" is a proper name or not. For a similar uncertainty, cf. Genesis 33:18. The place is evidently situated between Ephrath (Genesis 35:19) and Hebron (Genesis 37:14). The identification of Eder with Jerusalem on the strength of Micah 4:8 ("O tower of the flock [or, "Eder"], the hill of the daughter of Sion") is improbable.

22 a. Reuben The incest of Reuben is alluded to in Genesis 49:3-4. The Compiler abbreviates what must have been a repulsive tradition. But, as in ch. 34, the tradition may possibly contain, in figurative language, some reminiscence of early tribal relations. Very little is known of the tribe of Reuben; but in Numbers 16 the tribe of Reuben endeavours to displace Moses on the strength of its primogeniture: and in Joshua 15:6, "the stone of Bohan son of Reuben," in the heart of Canaan, may contain the reminiscence of some early unrecorded tribal encroachment.

Israel heard of it As in Genesis 34:30-31, the tradition breaks off abruptly.