Exodus 1:2-5 - Exposition

The sons of the legitimate wives Leah and Rachel are placed first, in the order of their seniority ( Genesis 29:32-35 ; Genesis 30:18-20 ; Genesis 35:18 ); then these of the secondary wives, or concubines, also in the order of their birth ( Genesis 30:6-13 ). The order is different from that observed in Genesis 46:1-34 ; and seems intended to do honour to legitimate, as opposed to secondary, wedlock. The omission of Joseph follows necessarily from the exact form of the opening phrase, "These are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt with Jacob. "