Genesis 30:25-34
Summary for Gen 30:25-34: 30:25-34 a After his fourteen years of service, Jacob asked Laban for permission to go home. The two bedouin leaders negotiated politely but remained cautiously on guard. Laban wanted to get more out of Jacob. Jacob wanted to gain his wages by selective breeding.30:27 b I have become wealthy: God had prospered Laban through Jacob’s presence (see 22:18 c). Laban may have looked for omens, or simply have perceived what was happening. Since dark-colored sheep (30:32 d) were rare, a large number of them was considered an omen of God’s blessing.
Summary for Gen 30:30-33: 30:30-33 e Jacob agreed that God had blessed Laban through him, so he made a plan to gain something for himself. He proposed for his wages the rare black and multicolored goats and the speckled and spotted sheep that were born.
30:32 f As Abraham had done with Lot (13:9 g), Jacob gave Laban what he valued most. White sheep were more common and more valuable than dark or multicolored sheep; as a man of faith, Jacob was willing to take the rejects (cp. 1 Cor 1:26 h).
Summary for Gen 30:34-36: 30:34-36 i Laban verbally agreed with Jacob’s plan, but he tried to prevent Jacob from accruing wealth by removing animals from the flock that would fulfill the agreement.
• Laban’s deception with his goats reminds us of Jacob’s deception of Esau (cp. 27:9 j; see study note on 29:14-30).
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