Gift order not birth order; Judah first; last first; free before slave-born

Cyril: …Jacob who have come to be? For clear would also become and very here the having been altered in the approach.

Palladius: And very much.

Cyril: So then firstborn is Reuben, and upon him Simeon, Levi, and Judah from at least mother Leah. And Bilhah again the servant-girl Dan and Naphtali, and indeed also Zilpah servant-girl of Leah, Gad and Asher, and Leah at least in addition to the other four, bears Issachar and Zebulun; and from Rachel also came to be Joseph and Benjamin. So then first from Leah, the four from free woman, Reuben, and Simeon, Levi and Judah. And from two servant-girls, Bilhah and Zilpah, four, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. And others again upon these four; two from Leah, Issachar and Zebulun, and from at least Rachel, Joseph and Benjamin. And one must remember, that into two tribes the Joseph lot has been divided, into both Ephraim and indeed Manasseh, those who have come to be from him.

Palladius: I understand very well the order of the names; and what then remaining is the sought as at least in these, already yours to clarify.

Cyril: Approaching, O Palladius, with the gifts together, they were doing this, not according to age, but first Judah, though being fourth according to time, and ninth after him Issachar, and with them tenth Zebulun. And a company as it were after these second, Reuben the firstborn, and the successive and second, Simeon. And Dan from a slave-woman has also been joined. And in addition to these at least, a third rank through three free, both Ephraim and Manasseh and Benjamin. And a fourth company in last things, of those who have come to be from servant-girls. And three at least these again, Dan and Asher, and Naphtali, though excelling by the time of birth, of those as ordered before in order, both Ephraim, I say, and Manasseh, and Benjamin. So then do you not say the test upon these is necessary?

Palladius: Most of all; what then is the word, try to say for me.

Cyril: A riddle somehow is the matter, just as I myself think again. That the through Christ have first order beside God than those in law; and that the first have been set last, and the last first. For those as in time older and on account of this firstborn—that is, Israel—come behind the nations. And those having the slave spirit, and sons of the Jerusalem that slaves, will yield the excelling in glory to those of the free woman, who is mother of us who have been justified in Christ, and called unto free dignity through free spirit. For see, if it seems good, the exact of the contemplations. For first the tribe of Judah brings forward the gift; from which Christ has sprouted according to flesh. And after this at once both Issachar and Zebulun; and both were free and from free. Then Reuben the first