These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,
Our purpose in this commentary does not require any extensive comment on these genealogies.  In the first place, they are not completely understood as to their exact meaning by anyone living millenniums after the generations enumerated.  "It is impossible now to unravel these genealogies with any certainty."[2]  The duplication of many names, the appearance of many names that cannot be distinguished as applicable whether to persons or places, and other uncertainties greatly complicate the problem of any complete understanding of these chapters.  It is also true that textual corruptions in a few places add to the problem.