<b>Who came into Egypt with Jacob (Exod. 1:1).</b> Did they actually enter Egypt on that very day? Had not many days passed by since their arrival? (This informs us that) as long as Joseph lived, the burdens of Egypt were not imposed upon them, but that after his death burdens were imposed upon them. Hence it is written <i>who came</i>, as though they entered Egypt on that very day.<sup class="footnote-marker">7</sup><i class="footnote">The text uses the present participle, <i>habaim</i>.</i> <i>With Jacob</i> signifies that they came because of Jacob’s virtues. Every man came with his household. R. Huna said: This teaches us that they did not descend into Egypt until Perez and Hezron were one and two years old, respectively, and he had obtained wives for them. Hence, <i>every man came with his household</i>.
Reuben, Simeon, and all the other tribes were mentioned because of the future redemption of Israel. Reuben: <i>I have surely seen the affliction of my people</i> (Exod. 3:7). Simeon: <i>And God heard their groaning</i> (ibid. 2:24). Levi: <i>Many nations will attach themselves to the Lord</i> (Zech. 2:15). Judah: <i>I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, for though Thou wast angry with me, Thine anger is turned away and Thou comfortest me</i> (Isa. 12:1). Issachar: <i>For thy ways shall be rewarded</i> (Jer. 31:16). Zebulun: <i>I have surely built thee a house of habitation</i> (I Kings 8:13). Benjamin: <i>The Lord hath sworn by His right hand</i> (Isa. 62:18). Dan: <i>And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge</i> (Gen. 15:14). Naphtali: <i>Thy lips, O my bride, drop honey</i> (Song 4:11). Gad: <i>Now the manna was like coriander seed</i> (Num. 11:7). Asher: <i>And all the nations shall call you happy</i> (Mal. 3:12). Joseph: <i>The Lord will set His hand again the second time</i> (Isa. 11:1).
R. Joshua of Sikhnin said in the name of R. Levi: The names of the tribes are not mentioned in the same order in every instance. At various times one precedes the other. Why is that so? Lest people say that the children of Jacob’s wives take precedence over those of his handmaidens. This teaches us that one was not greater than another. Another comment on why one precedes another: They are, as it were, like the ceiling of the world; just as one constructs a ceiling by placing the thick side of one beam against the thin side of another, so on different occasions He mentioned one before the other. How do we know that they are the ceiling (<i>tikrah</i>) of the world? Because it is stated: <i>Hearken unto Me, O Jacob and Israel, My called</i> (<i>mekora’</i>) (Isa. 48:12).