And he set three days’ journey between himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.
36. three days’ journey ] In order to prevent the least possibility of confusion or of intermingling, Laban separates his sons’ flocks by a great distance from those which Jacob is to tend.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Three days journey; understand it of the journeying or travelling of sheep, not of men. He did this lest either Jacob should mingle and exchange the sheep, or the sheep, by the contemplation of the diverse coloured ones, should bring forth others like to them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
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 p, those that were committed to his care were old and barren, and sick, and infirm, that so he might have no profit from them.
p Bereshit Rabba, sect. 73. fol. 64. 1. Targum Jon. & Jarchi in loc.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(36) He set three days journey betwixt himself and Jacob.This means that Laban required that there should be an interval of between thirty and forty miles between himself, that is, his flocks, and those of Jacob. His wealth in sheep and goats must have been enormous to require so large a separate feeding-ground; and this we learn from Gen. 30:30 had been the result of Jacobs care. The words and Jacob fed, &c., are added to correct the natural supposition that he would at least give some part of his time and care to his own flocks, whereas it was his personal duty to attend only to those of Laban. The verse, nevertheless, is awkward, and the Syriac has probably preserved the right-reading: And he set three days journey between himself and Laban: and Jacob fed the flock of Laban that was left. The Samaritan and LXX. read, between them and Jacob.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 30:36 And he set three days’ journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.
Ver. 36. And he set three days’ journey.] Hoping so to disappoint Jacob of having anything, and to make his own party good with him. For, naturally, the cattle would bring forth others like themselves; and so Jacob’s part should be little enough. Sed et hic fallitur sordidus impostor , saith Pareus. Laban was utterly out in his count, and crossed in his design.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Reciprocal: Gen 31:22 – General