Kejadian 30:38-39

30:38 Then he set up the peeled branches in all the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink. He set up the branches in front of the flocks when they were in heat and came to drink. ¹  30:39 When the sheep mated ²  in front of the branches, they ³  gave birth to young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.

Kejadian 30:42

30:42 But if the animals were weaker, he did not set the branches there. ⁴  So the weaker animals ended up belonging to Laban ⁵  and the stronger animals to Jacob.

Kejadian 42:24

42:24 He turned away from them and wept. When he turned around and spoke to them again, ⁶  he had Simeon taken ⁷  from them and tied up ⁸  before their eyes.

[30:38]  ¹ sn He put the branches in front of the flocks…when they came to drink. It was generally believed that placing such “visual aids” before the animals as they were mating, it was possible to influence the appearance of their offspring. E. A. Speiser notes that “Jacob finds a way to outwit his father-in-law, through prenatal conditioning of the flock by visual aids – in conformance with universal folk beliefs” (Genesis [AB], 238). Nevertheless, in spite of Jacob’s efforts at animal husbandry, he still attributes the resulting success to God (see 31:5).

[30:39]  ² tn The Hebrew verb used here can mean “to be in heat” (see v. 38) or “to mate; to conceive; to become pregnant.” The latter nuance makes better sense in this verse, for the next clause describes them giving birth.

[30:39]  ³ tn Heb “the sheep.” The noun has been replaced by the pronoun (“they”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[30:42]  ⁴ tn Heb “he did not put [them] in.” The referent of the [understood] direct object, “them,” has been specified as “the branches” in the translation for clarity.

[30:42]  ⁵ tn Heb “were for Laban.”

[42:24]  ⁶ tn Heb “and he turned to them and spoke to them.”

[42:24]  ⁷ tn Heb “took Simeon.” This was probably done at Joseph’s command, however; the grand vizier of Egypt would not have personally seized a prisoner.

[42:24]  ⁸ tn Heb “and he bound him.” See the note on the preceding verb “taken.”