Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 46:12

12 And the sons of Judah: Er, and Onan, and Shelah and Pharez, and Zerah, but Er, and Onan died in the land of Canaan . And the sons of Pharez were Hezron, and Hamul .

And therefore are contained in the following number, ver. 15.

Who, though they seem to have been born in Egypt, yet are here set down amongst those who came into Egypt, because they came thither in their fathers loyns, as Levi is said to pay tithes in Abraham, Heb. 7. 9. And the children may as well be said to come thither in their Parents, as their father Iacob is said to return from thence, ver. 4. in his children. Obj. If this be the sence, why should these two be mentioned rather than the grandchildren of the other brethren, who came into Egypt in the same manner! Ans. This may be done either, 1. From some special excellency or eminency in them above the rest, as Hezron was eminent for being the progenitour of the Messiah, and Hamul might be so for some other cause though unknown to us. Or 2. Because they were the first grand-children that were born in Egypt, and it may be all that were born whilst Iacob lived there, and therefore are not unfitly named with Iacob and allotted to him, as Iosephs two eldest sons Ephraim and Manasseh were by Iacob appropriated to himself, and reckoned as his immediate sons, when all the rest of Iosephs sons were excluded from that priviledge, Gen. 48. 5, 6. And the like may be said of the other two Grandchildren mentioned ver. 17.

Marginal references: 1 Chron. 2. 3. and 4. 21. Chap. 38. 3.; 1 Chron. 2. 5.