Genesis 30:42 - Exposition

But when the cattle were feeble ,—literally, in the covering (sc. with wool; hence weakening) of the flock , which took place in autumn— he put them not in (partly to prevent the introduction of feeble animals amongst his parti-colored flocks, but partly also, it is thought, to avoid prematurely exciting Laban's suspicion): so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.