Genesis 30:37-43

2009.Jan.30 17:00

The Wealth of Jacob

Read Genesis 30:37-43 | Full Chapter

But Jacob took fresh rods of poplar and almond and plane trees and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white in the rods. Then he set the rods which he had peeled in front of the flocks in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink. And since they bred and conceived when they came to drink, The flocks bred and conceived in sight of the rods and brought forth lambs and kids streaked, speckled, and spotted. Jacob separated the lambs, and [as he had done with the peeled rods] he also set the faces of the flocks toward the streaked and all the dark in the [new] flock of Laban; and he put his own droves by themselves and did not let them breed with Laban's flock. And whenever the stronger animals were breeding, Jacob laid the rods in the watering troughs before the eyes of the flock, that they might breed and conceive among the rods. But when the sheep and goats were feeble, he omitted putting the rods there; so the feebler animals were Laban's and the stronger Jacob's. Thus the man increased and became exceedingly rich, and had many sheep and goats, and maidservants, menservants, camels, and donkeys.
(Genesis 30:37-43, AMP)

So, let’s consider Jacob’s wealth. Because, it’s not clear whether he’s wealthy at the beginning of this passage, but he clearly becomes so. Certainly, from what I know about the sociology of polygamy (admittedly not a lot), having four wives is a sign of at least a high status within such societies. And by the end of the passage, we see him “[becoming] exceedingly rich,” with servants and a great deal of livestock, which I imagine are the main things one can measure wealth by in what appears to be a still largely nomadic society. (Incidentally, I’ve been reading a book on the history of Israel lately, and the author notes that camels probably weren’t in use during this time; maybe later I’ll update this with an actual quote).

The Biblical description of how he achieves this wealth, despite Laban’s schemes, is to me one of the weirder passages in the Bible. It’s also one of those passages that I think demonstrates that Yahweh’s intent with scriptute was not to present a scientific treatise, something which a surprising number of my fellow Christians seem to claim. But I digress.

The narrative indicates the Jacob used branches to influence the coloration of the offspring during breeding season. Since the contract specifies that Jacob’s and Laban’s flocks be distinguished by coloration, and since Laban has previously removed those of Jacob’s group prior to that agreement going into effect, and given a lack of specific knowledge of heredity and genetics, well, I guess I can’t blame Jacob for trying. And it works. This could be a miracle; it could be the author’s way of shortening a more drawn out and complex circumstance. Regardless, it presents some interesting food for thought.

A possible lesson from this, and one which I’m believe is wrong, is the idea that it’s okay to cheat when you’ve been cheated. But, then, is Jacob cheating? It’s hard to imagine he wouldn’t. Is this deception or cunning? Or is cunning just a word for deception we like? Etc. One of the difficulties with reading the pre-Mosaic accounts is that morality is at times unclear. Particularly as regards Jacob.

But he does build wealth, fat lot of good it will do him in time (as a forthcoming famine will render it largely irrelevant). And yet his relationship with his father-in-law/uncle is not getting any better. So, then, is this a story of greed, its destructive effect on relationships and ultimate insufficiency? Yes, Jacob counters a bad circumstance through an amazing plan, one which not only is unexpected but also rather stupid, at least given modern science (which is capable of stupid on its own, admittedly). But it’s perhaps more interesting that his acknowledgment of Yahweh, God of his fathers, has become pretty much exclusively lip service at this point. It is on his own cunning that Jacob relies.

So, what else? Not only does Jacob’s messing with the sticks benefit him, it directly hurts Laban, for whom Jacob designates the weaker animals. Maybe it’s illustrative of the need to consider the small print. Given the importance of Covenant in later Israel, it’s not surprising to find a contract and how both parties try to mold it to their own advantage. Israel’s history (like that of humanity in general) has abundant instances of that nation trying to sidestep her agreements with Yahweh. And, as for both Jacob and Laban, the immediate results seem beneficial.