33:1–29 In Gen. 49, Leah’s children are listed first, followed by those of the handmaidens and Rachel. Here the order is different. Reuben, the firstborn, is mentioned first (v. 6), followed by the royal tribe of Judah (v. 7; cf. Gen. 49:10) and the priestly tribe of Levi (vv. 8–11). The tribes descending from Rachel’s sons are next (vv. 12–17), followed by two remaining sons of Leah, Zebulun and Issachar (vv. 18, 19). Finally, the servants’ children are listed (vv. 20–24). The tribe of Simeon is omitted, perhaps to retain the number twelve, although Jacob’s blessing had predicted that Simeon would be scattered throughout Israel (Gen. 49:7).