Reuben went, &c.— Dr. Kennicott says, this is one of the twenty-five or twenty-eight places, where the Jewish transcribers have left a vacant place in their manuscripts in the middle of the verse; and where a space has been also left in the printed editions. But the Greek version is very full. The supplement in the Greek acquaints us, that this act of Reuben's was considered by his father as vile and flagitious, και πονηρον εφανη εναντιον αυτου, a censure which is naturally expected; and that Israel greatly resented this action of Reuben's, see ch. Genesis 49:4.
Israel heard it— Though both Reuben and Bilhah, doubtless, flattered themselves that it would have been concealed, and bestowed all pains to conceal it.
The sons of Jacob were twelve, &c.— Moses makes this remark, as after the birth of Benjamin Jacob had no more sons, and the number was here closed. When he says, Genesis 49:26 that these are the sons which were born in Padan-aram; he uses a synecdoche frequent in the Scripture, as all were born there but Benjamin, whose birth every one sees to be excepted, as having been just now related. Thus the apostles are called the twelve apostles, even after Judas's death, when they were but eleven; and after Matthias and Paul were added, which made them thirteen.