How does jacob outwit laban

Biblical heroes are worthy of emulation, but we cannot expect their behavior to be infallible. All of them, except Christ, were sinners Rom.

Instead, he alters his breeding techniques in hopes of yielding his wages. He peels bark off some trees to make them speckled with white and then has the goats breed in front of them.

In addition, he has the white lambs mate while gazing upon the colored animals. Over time, the offspring of these animals bear increasing numbers of the creatures owed him as payment vv. Obviously, Jacob accepted the common belief of his day that an embryo could be altered based upon what its parents looked upon while mating. Once God purposes to bless someone, nothing can stop Him.

This would explain why Ramban holds that there were two visions. Now, let us consider an alternative understanding: the visions were a single prophecy. What is added the second time Jacob views the he-goats? When he devised the plan regarding the streaked rods, it was his own thinking.

Now, as the flocks became heated, he received this vision. Of his own accord, Jacob attempted to use his knowledge of animal behavior to increase his wealth. Why then was a vision necessary at this point?

By its very definition, a vision means that God is relating to the person individually. Jacob was now being informed that God is providing for him. He need not concern himself that Laban might cheat him anymore. This reasoning makes sense, as this reassuring vision came exactly when Jacob was trying to outwit Laban. Jacob felt he was on his own, and rightfully so.

A righteous person is humble by nature, and does not rely on miracles. You need not worry. He states that any person who enters the world, if he desires to take on the life of Torah, abandoning the life of monetary concerns, that he will be given enough to sustain him.

You will be successful. We are left with one question: why is Jacob first given the opportunity to see the vision, and only afterwards, addressed by the angel to look again at what he already saw? Seeing twice in a vision also occurs in connection with Abraham. I am not sure why in some cases a person will see a vision once, and why in these cases, a further understanding is required. Perhaps, this emphasizes to the prophet his ignorance of a specific area of knowledge.

Not really. Remember that Laban tricked Jacob into working an extra seven years for Rachel. Jacob worked hard for him and suffered much hardship , God defended Jacob, specifically recognizing that Laban had been exploitively mistreating him But while the narrative is partly about justice and injustice, it is also about God being with Jacob. He is with Jacob not because Jacob treated Laban nobly, but because of patriarchal blessing ; , because God had revealed himself to this descendant of Abraham , and because Jacob had vowed to him God continues to convert people from unchurched, non-Christian backgrounds, including myself; we embrace a new heritage in Christ.

What does Genesis mean? Literally, he deceived the deceiver. Jacob somehow managed to pack up his family and all of his belongings and leave without Laban knowing that it was happening.