Every three years, I try to get a new desktop. This year's version arrived yesterday, which means that for the last two days I've been transferring files, searching for original disks, and praying nothing important got lost!
But am happy to say that we are functioning. Aside from a bad power cord, which I switched out with the old machine, the new and tiny little Dell is purring on my desk. Yes, it's that small!
Anyway, I promised to look up that bit about the spotted/solid sheep. The best explanation follows:
§ 30:31–34 In the ancient Near East, most lambs were white and most goats black or dark brown. Thinking the agreement posed little risk to himself, Laban eagerly granted Jacob’s request for the unusually colored animals (v. 34). Jacob’s proposal depended upon the faulty notion that vivid visual impressions during the act of reproduction determined the traits of the offspring. He thought that placing alternating colors in front of mating animals would result in unusually colored offspring (vv. 37, 38, 41, 42). Even though Jacob’s scheming would deny God His rightful praise, God’s intention to bless Jacob was not thwarted (31:11, 12).
§ 30:35 he removed that day. The unscrupulous Laban immediately cheated. According to the agreement the unusually colored animals should have been Jacob’s starting flock (v. 32). Jacob began with none of these, a fact highlighting the supernatural blessing on him.
§ 30:39 flocks brought forth. Jacob’s success was due to God’s grace (31:9–12), not to his ill-founded theory of animal husbandry.
Whitlock, Luder G., R. C. Sproul, Bruce K. Waltke, and Moisš Silva. Reformation Study Bible, the : Bringing the Light of the Reformation to Scripture : New King James Version. Includes Index., Ge 30:31. Nashville: T. Nelson, 1995.
Boy, that Laban was slippery! Reminds me of his daughter, Rachel, who was a sneaky lass herself!
Angie
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