וַיְהִ֗י בִּשְׁכֹּ֤ן יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַהִ֔וא וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ רְאוּבֵ֗֔ן וַיִּשְׁכַּ֕ב֙ אֶת־בִּלְהָ֖ה֙ פִּילֶ֣גֶשׁ אָבִ֑֔יו וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑͏ֽל׃ {פ}
וַיִּֽהְי֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יַעֲקֹ֖ב שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָֽׂר׃
While Israel stayed in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine; and Israel found out.
Now the sons of Jacob were twelve in number. Genesis 35:22 (Revised JPS, 2023)
I hate this verse.
I hate how little it says about such a great offense. I hate how it doesn't mention Israel's reaction here. I hate how it something happens... and then nothing happens. The chapter just goes on to count the sons of Israel and ends with Isaac dying.
I hate it so much. I think we want a response -- from Israel, from Bilhah, from God most of all. We only get silence.
It's like that at times, I suppose.