Birthplace

From verses 23 to 26, Genesis 35 names the sons of Jacob, and closes by saying that they were born to him in Paddan-Aram. However, if you were paying attention, this same chapter makes it clear that Benjamin was not born in Paddan-Aram with his brothers. He was born in Canaan. So why does the text say that "the sons of Jacob" were born in Paddan-Aram?

There are some answers offered up:

• The majority Rabbinical view is that the text is simply addressing a collective. Ie., it doesn't say "all twelve," so it can safely imply "almost all of them."
• Perhaps "born" and "conceived" are used interchangeably; Benjamin was certainly conceived in Paddan-Aram, but actually born in Canaan. The problem with this interpretation is that the word יֻלַּד (yullad), which means to be born. "Conceive" would be הרה (harah), like in Genesis 29:32.
• Another view points back to Genesis 30:24, where Rachel prays for another son. Perhaps the text is connecting the reader back to this answered prayer, and it makes the claim that God's answer was granted to Rachel during her prayer in Paddan-Aram.

Regardless of the reason, it makes one wonder if Benjamin's birth in Canaan matters. It doesn't appear to create any difference for him in the text, aside from becoming Jacob's favorite son after Joseph is assumed to be killed, but this is understood to be more about Rachel than about Benjamin's birthplace.

It is curious.