But when the cattle were feeble, he put [them] not in: so the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s.
42. the feebler the stronger ] These words were a difficulty to the versions. LXX , Lat. quae erant serotina quae primi temporis. So Aq. Sym. , and Targum of Onkelos “early” and “late,” referring to the time of breeding. The earlier breeding sheep were the stronger. Pliny, H. N., viii. 187, postea concepti invalidi (quoted by Skinner).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in,…. Or “when covered”, as Menachem, that is, with wool, and so not so desirous of copulation with the males, nor so fit and strong for generation; and therefore he put not in the rods into the gutters, partly that he might have none feeble in his flock, and partly that he might not spoil Laban of his whole flock, strong and weak:
so the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s; not only his flocks became more numerous than Laban’s, but were a better quality.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
42. The feebler were Laban’s This was a third trick . The Eastern sheep lamb twice a year, in spring and fall, and those born in the fall, according to Pliny, were the stronger. It is probable that after a time Laban suspected or discovered Jacob’s artifice, and accordingly changed his wages, or the terms of the contract, many times. See Gen 31:7-8. But Jacob was smart enough to frustrate all his attempts to overreach him .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 30:42 But when the cattle were feeble, he put [them] not in: so the feebler were Laban’s, and the stronger Jacob’s.
Ver. 42. So the feebler were Laban’s.] So elsewhere God promiseth that his people “shall rob those that robbed them, and spoil those that spoiled them”. Eze 39:10