Komentaryong Sumisipi para sa Mga Bilang 4:22

“May Reuben live and not die, and let his men be counted.” This first blessing is in the spirit of Jacob’s blessings when he said the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power (Genesis 49:3). Here Jacob blessed him with two blessings, one called dignity [se’et] and one power [oz]. The dignity refers to having many people to the point that they need to be counted, for something of great quantity requires numbering. And that his men be mighty, because Reuben who dwelled at the border needed all this — that his men be numerous and mighty — so they would not die in battle. Now, dignity [se’et] is a term related to counting, as in when you take [tissa] a census (Exodus 30:11) and take [nassa] a census (Numbers 4:22). And power [oz] refers to might. Now, because he disturbed his father’s bed, he deserved to have both taken from him, but through blessing they were given to him as a gift. And [Jacob] said, by right you should have exceeding dignity and exceeding power — more counting and might, twice as much as all the tribes — but unstable as water, you shall not excel (Genesis 49:4). Do not take the excess, but nevertheless, you shall be equal to all the tribes in dignity and power. And this is why Moses also blessed him with might, saying May Reuben live, meaning he should be a man of life, of many accomplishments in battle, and then not die, and let his men be counted — this is the aspect of dignity [se’et] that we mentioned.

ושם אחיו יובל, “his brother’s name was Yuval.” From the manner in which the Torah reports their births it is clear that they were twins. If not, his birth would have been introduced with: ותלד עוד, “she gave birth also, etc.” It is customary for shepherds to entertain themselves by playing the flute or a similar musical instrument. Most likely Naamah, Tuval Kayin’s sister, (verse 22) born by Tzilah, was also a twin, as Tzilah is not credited with having given birth twice.