Genesis 30:36

36 und machte Raum drei Tagereisen weit zwischen sich und Jakob. Also weidete Jakob die übrigen Herden Labans.

Genesis 30:36 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 30:36

And he set three days' journey between himself and Jacob
Not three days' journey for a man, but for cattle; this distance there was between the place where Laban and his sons kept the spotted, speckled, and brown cattle, and that in which Jacob kept the flock only consisting of white sheep; and this was done, that the flocks might not be mixed, and that there might be no opportunity to take any of the spotted ones, and that they might not stray into Jacob's flock; or lest any of his seeing them might bring forth the like, such precaution was used: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flock;
those that remained after the spotted, speckled, and brown were taken out; and Jacob having none but white sheep, there was no great likelihood, according to the course of nature, of his having much for his hire; since he was only to have the spotted, speckled, and brown ones that came from them, and generally like begets like; and, according to the Jewish writers ^F16, those that were committed to his care were old and barren, and sick, and infirm, that so he might have no profit from them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 73. fol. 64. 1. Targum Jon. & Jarchi in loc.

Genesis 30:36 In-Context

34 Da sprach Laban: Siehe da, es sei, wie du gesagt hast.

35 Und sonderte des Tages die sprenkligen und bunten Böcke und alle gefleckten und bunten Ziegen, wo nur was Weißes daran war, und alles, was schwarz war unter den Lämmern, und tat's unter die Hand seiner Kinder

36 und machte Raum drei Tagereisen weit zwischen sich und Jakob. Also weidete Jakob die übrigen Herden Labans.

37 Jakob aber nahm Stäbe von grünen Pappelbäumen, Haseln und Kastanien und schälte weiße Streifen daran, daß an den Stäben das Weiß bloß ward,

38 und legte die Stäbe, die er geschält hatte, in die Tränkrinnen vor die Herden, die kommen mußten, zu trinken, daß sie da empfangen sollten, wenn sie zu trinken kämen. {~}