Genesis 30:38

38 And he put the banded sticks in the drinking-places where the flock came to get water; and they became with young when they came to the water.

Genesis 30:38 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 30:38

And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks,
&c.] Opposite them, in the view of them: in the gutters in the watering troughs, when the flocks came to
drink;
that is, in places of water, where troughs or vessels were made, into which the water ran convenient for the cattle to drink out of; and here he placed his party coloured rods right over against the flocks: that they should conceive when they came to drink;
as it was most likely they should when they were together at the water, and had refreshed themselves with it; and being "heated" ^F17, as the word signifies, with a desire of copulation, might conceive in sight of the above rods; which were set to move upon their imagination at the time of their conception, in order to produce cattle of different colours; to which no doubt he was directed of God, and it had, through his blessing, the wished for success, as follows:

---

FOOTNOTES:

F17 (hnmxy) "incalescebant", Montanus, Vatablus, Drusius; "ut incalescerent", Junius & Tremellius.

Genesis 30:38 In-Context

36 And sent them three days' journey away: and Jacob took care of the rest of Laban's flock.

37 Then Jacob took young branches of trees, cutting off the skin so that the white wood was seen in bands.

38 And he put the banded sticks in the drinking-places where the flock came to get water; and they became with young when they came to the water.

39 And because of this, the flock gave birth to young which were marked with bands of colour.

40 These lambs Jacob kept separate; and he put his flock in a place by themselves and not with Laban's flock.