The Order of Birth of Jacob’s Children
Verse 23-26, The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and
Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun: {24} The sons
of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin: {25} And the sons of Bilhah,
Rachel’s handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali: {26} And the sons of
Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these [are] the sons of Jacob,
which were born to him in Padanaram.
The order of birth of the sons of Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, Zilpah and
are here given. Diana, of course, is left out.
ORDER OF THE BIRTH OF JACOB’S CHILDREN
It is very interesting that verse 26 states, "…these are the sons
of Jacob, which were born to him in Pandanaram."
Just 10 verses before (verse 16) the Bible states that Rachel travailed in
pain to be delivered of her second child when they got to Ephrath,
which is located some 400 miles southwest of Pandanaram. Is the Bible wrong in
this case? No, the Bible is never wrong, but our understanding is often wrong.
Many commentaries I read said that all the sons of Jacob were born at
Padanaram, with the exception of Benjamin. In saying that, they hint that the
Bible is wrong. One commentary stated that there was no need to give Benjamin
as the exception because the story of his birth was given just a few verses
before, so the reader would not get it mixed up. It is my opinion that that
commentary missed the most important point of all – that all the children of
Jacob were given to him at Pandanaram. His actual possession came at Ephrath.
Just like we have been given eternity with Jesus Christ, although we don’t
actually take possession until this time is over. God’s promises are just as
good at ours, even though we don’t "physically" posses them at the
moment.
Another very important point that is often overlooked. We often think of
the word "born" as meaning to bring forth, to be delivered of, or
the time of delivery. These are secondary meanings. However, there is a
meaning that precedes these meanings. The primary meaning of "born"
is to bear, to beget, to bring forth. The truth is that as far as God is
concerned the beginning of a person is at conception, not at birth. Thus the
Bible states that the sons of Jacob were given to him in Pandanaram.
Another point is that abortion is wrong, a sin before God. Abortion is the
murder of a person, even if that person hasn’t come from the womb as yet,
even if that tiny person isn’t physically able to live outside the womb.
Science, falsely so called, tries to convince that a baby isn’t a baby until
it comes out of the womb, but this isn’t what the Bible says.
There are many scriptures that speak of God knowing a person while they are
still in their mothers womb:
Judges 16:17 – Samson was a Nazarite from his mothers womb. Samson’s
mother was told, "…drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any
unclean thing, For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son…"
Job 3:10 – God knew Job when he was yet in his mothers womb.
Psalms 22:9,10; 71:6; 139:13 – God knew David while he was yet in the
womb.
Isaiah 49:1 – Isaiah was called to be a prophet of God from his mothers
womb.
Jeremiah 20:17 – Jeremiah laments because he didn’t die in his
mothers womb but has been born and called to be a prophet of God and his
message rejected of the Jews.
Matthew 19:12 – There are some men born eunuchs born that way from
their mothers womb.
Luke 1:15 – The angel explains to Zacharias that Elizabeth shall bear a
son, named John, which shall be filled with the Holy Ghost from the womb.
Galatians 1:15 – Paul was separated from his mothers womb, but was
called in time to salvation and to be God’s messenger to the Gentiles.