And the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these [are] the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padan-aram.
Verse 26. Born to him in Padan-aram.] i.e., all but Benjamin was born in Canaan, Gen 35:16; Gen 35:17.
It is well known that Padan-aram is the same as Mesopotamia, and hence the Septuagint translate , Mesopotamia of Syria. The word signifies between the two rivers, from the midst, and , a river. It is situated between the Euphrates and Tigris, having Assyria on the east, Arabia Deserta, with Babylonia, on the south, Syria on the west, and Armenia on the north. It is now the province of Diarbek, in Asiatic Turkey, and is sometimes called Maverannahar, the country beyond the river; and Aram Naharaim, Aram or Syria of the two rivers.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
All but Benjamin, who must in all reason be supposed to be excepted here, because he is said to be born elsewhere, above, Gen 35:16. But it is a usual synecdoche, whereby that is ascribed to all in gross which belongs to the greatest part. See Gen 15:13; 46:15; Exo 12:40; Jdg 20:46; Joh 20:24; 1Co 15:5.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
26. Sons of Jacob . . . born to himin Padan-aramIt is a common practice of the sacred historianto say of a company or body of men that which, though true of themajority, may not be applicable to every individual. (See Mat 19:28;Joh 20:24; Heb 11:13).Here is an example, for Benjamin was born in Canaan [Ge35:16-18].
Gen 35:28;Gen 35:29. DEATHOF ISAAC.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the sons of Zilpah,…. And lastly, the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, which were two also, Gad and Asher; it is added,
these [are] the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram, all excepting Benjamin; and because they were by far the greater part, even all but one, that were born there, this is said in general; and there having been given in the context such a particular account of the birth of Benjamin, and of the place of it, them was no need for the historian particularly to except him, since the reader would be in no danger of being led into a mistake.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(26) In Padan-aram.The words are to be taken only generally, as Benjamin was born in Canaan.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
And the sons: Gen 30:9-13, Gen 46:16-18
in Padanaram: Except Benjamin, Gen 35:18, Gen 25:20, Gen 28:2, Gen 31:18
Reciprocal: Gen 29:35 – called Gen 30:11 – she Gen 30:13 – and she Gen 37:2 – wives Gen 46:17 – Asher Gen 46:18 – Zilpah Exo 1:4 – Asher 1Ch 2:2 – Asher