Genesis 30:39-40

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 30:37-43

Here is Jacob's honest policy to make his bargain more advantageous to himself than it was likely to be. If he had not taken some course to help himself, it would have been a bad bargain indeed, which he knew Laban would never consider, or rather would be well pleased to see him a loser by, so little did Laban consult any one's interest but his own. Now Jacob's contrivances were, 1. To set peeled sticks before the cattle where they were watered, that, looking much at those unusual... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:39

And the flocks conceived before the rods ,.... At them, and in sight of them; which had such influence upon them through thee force of imagination, and a divine power and providence so directing and succeeding this device, that they brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted ; such as Jacob was to have for his hire; and, though there was no doubt a more than ordinary concourse of divine Providence attending this affair; yet there have been many strange things brought about... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:40

And Jacob did separate the lambs ,.... The ringstraked, speckled, and spotted: and set the faces of the flocks , that were all white: towards the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban ; either to go before those that were all white, that they by looking at them might conceive and bring forth such, which was another artifice of Jacob's to increase his own sheep; or else he set at the water troughs the white sheep on one side of them, and on the opposite side the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 30:40

Jacob did separate the lambs, etc. - When Jacob undertook the care of Laban's flock, according to the agreement already mentioned, there were no party-colored sheep or goats among them, therefore the ring-streaked, etc., mentioned in this verse, must have been born since the agreement was made; and Jacob makes use of them precisely as he used the pilled rods, that, having these before their eyes during conception, the impression might be made upon their imagination which would lead to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 30:25-43

Jacob and Laban, or craft versus greed. I. JACOB 'S RESPECTFUL REQUEST OF LABAN . At the close of fourteen years harsh and exacting service, Jacob desires permission to take his wives and children and return to Canaan. The motives which induced him were probably— 1. The termination of his contract, which released him from a servitude both galling and oppressive. 2. The remembrance of God's covenant, which had assigned him the land of promise as his true inheritance. 3.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 30:39

And the flocks conceived ( ut supra ) before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted . The fact is said to have been frequently observed that, particularly in the case of sheep, whatever fixes their attention in copulation is marked upon the young. That Jacob believed in the efficacy of the artifice he adopted is apparent; but the multiplication of Parti-colored animals it will be safer to ascribe to Divine blessing than to human craft. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 30:40

And Jacob did separate the lambs ( i . e . the speckled lambs procured by the foregoing artifice he removed from the main body of the flock), and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban (this was Jacob's second artifice, to make the speckled lambs serve the same purpose as the pilled rods); and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle —so that they were not exposed to the risk of producing... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 30:1-43

- Jacob’s Family and Wealth6. דן dān, Dan, “judge, lord.”8. נפתלי naptālı̂y, Naphtali, “wrestling.”11. גד gād, Gad, “overcoming, victory.” בגד bāgād, “in victory or” =גד בא bā' gād, “victory cometh.” גוּד gûd, “press down.” גדוּד gedûd, “troop.”13. אשׁר 'ǎashēr, Asher, “prosperity, happiness.”18. ישׂשכר yı̂śāskār, Jissakar, “reward.” The second Hebrew letter (ש s) seems to have been merely a full mode of writing the word, instead of the abbreviated form ישׂכר yı̂śākār.20.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 30:40

Genesis 30:40. Jacob set the faces of the flocks toward the ring-streaked Having used the pilled rods by divine direction, and seeing the effects they produced, he here employs his own natural sagacity, and turns the faces of Laban’s flocks toward the ring-streaked and the brown, that by looking frequently on them, they might be disposed in their conception to bring forth the like. And he put his own flocks apart, lest, by looking at Laban’s, their young might fall off from being... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:25-43

Jacob tricks Laban (30:25-43)After Rachel had borne him a son, Jacob decided to return to Canaan. Laban asked Jacob what wages he would like, since much of Laban’s prosperity had resulted from Jacob’s farming ability (25-30). Jacob claimed as wages all the part-coloured animals in the flock, plus all the black sheep. As these were relatively few in number, Laban agreed, though he then attempted to lessen Jacob’s profit by removing from the flocks all the part-coloured animals and black sheep he... read more

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