Discovery BoxGenesis 25:16 
Context25:16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names by their settlements and their camps – twelve princes 1 according to their clans.
Genesis 35:22
Context35:22 While Israel was living in that land, Reuben had sexual relations with 2 Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard about it.
Jacob had twelve sons:
Genesis 49:28
Context49:28 These 3 are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them when he blessed them. He gave each of them an appropriate blessing. 4
1 tn Or “tribal chieftains.”
2 tn Heb “and Reuben went and lay with.” The expression “lay with” is a euphemism for having sexual intercourse.
sn Reuben’s act of having sexual relations with Bilhah probably had other purposes than merely satisfying his sexual desire. By having sex with Bilhah, Reuben (Leah’s oldest son) would have prevented Bilhah from succeeding Rachel as the favorite wife, and by sleeping with his father’s concubine he would also be attempting to take over leadership of the clan – something Absalom foolishly attempted later on in Israel’s history (2 Sam 16:21-22).
3 tn Heb “All these.”
4 tn Heb “and he blessed them, each of whom according to his blessing, he blessed them.”
