GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 30

GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 30 (Gen 30:1) And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

He who had come to Haran for a few days to find a wife was now embroiled in a miserable marriage. One wife he hated because he was tricked. And now this one that he loved, was pleading for a child. That was something that he had no control over. If she could have had children she would have conceived that first night. This was not something either of them wanted, but God controls a lot of things in life according to our attitude. As Hannah sang, “By Him actions are weighed” (1Sa_2:3).

(Gen 30:2) And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

It was natural that contention would arise in this family because no one was having their needs met and each was doing all they could to exert their pressure on the other.

The Targum of Jerusalem on Gen_30:22 says, this is one of the four keys which God delivers not to an angel or a seraph; even the key of barrenness. Children are the gift of God, and his only, and therefore he is to be sought unto for them: hence Onkelos land Jonathan paraphrase it; "wherefore dost thou seek them of me? shouldest thou not seek them of the Lord?" (Gill) (Gen 30:3) And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

Rachel finally decided that she could work out the situation for herself in her own way. So far we have heard no praying from Jacob or either of his two wives. Each was working his or her own scheme.

So Rachel gave Bilhah, her handmaid to Jacob, so she could at least have a child, for it was such a disgrace to be barren.

Each of the three great patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) had wives who had difficulty conceiving children. It is interesting to note how each man reacted to his wife's predicament. Abraham had

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relations with Sarah's servant in order to have his own child, thus introducing bitterness and jealousy into his family. Isaac, by contrast, prayed to God when his wife was barren. God eventually answered his prayers, and Rebekah had twin sons. Jacob, however, followed his grandfather's example and had children by his wives' servants, leading to sad and sometimes bitter consequences. (Life Application Study Bible) (Gen 30:4) And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

This gave Jacob three wives now, and he accepted the proposition in an effort to try and console Rachel, make a way for her to consider herself with child. Had these two women not had such contention, Leah very likely would have borne all the twelve patriarchs, for it was part of God's plan that there be twelve sons in the nation of Israel.

(Gen 30:5) And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.

This was nothing like having her own child, but Rachel could at least now feel like her sister was not having all the benefits, while she, the loved one, was being left out in the cold.

She does what Sarah had done before her Gen_16:2-3, gives her handmaid to her husband. No express law yet forbade this course, though nature and Scripture by implication did Gen_2:23-25.

(Barnes Notes) (Gen 30:6) And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan. She called him Dan “Judge,” because she felt that God had judged the case and realized that there could be some relief in her grief and allowed her to have a child through her maid. She very likely felt justified in giving her servant to Jacob since God honored the deed with a son. It is easy to consider good things happening as the blessing of God upon our actions.

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(Gen 30:7) And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.

Rachel saw that this method had worked the first time so she hoped to be rewarded again, and sure enough along came the second child

by Bilhah. Now Rachel could lay claim to being the mother, (in one way or another) of half as many children as her sister. Though God was allowing her schemes to work out, the only reason was so that His own plan would be implemented, and not just to fulfill her wishes.

(Gen 30:8) And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

This second son of Bilhah Rachel named Naphtali which means “Wrestling,” because of the [lit. God-wrestlings] struggle she had with her sister.

Thus speaks Rachel; and this woman's experience, multiplied as it is a thousand-fold in hearts that never told their struggles, shows us that life is not so calm as it seems. Beneath many a placid stream there are deep and dangerous under-currents. Often a quiet face hides the deep things, which even the dearest intimacies cannot draw out, and which constitute the tragedies of the heart's history. It is well that we learn the need of wrestling; for life, especially Christian life, has flesh and blood to battle with. Paul says, "we wrestle"; and goodness, even at its best, is dearly bought and hardly won. (W. M. Statham, M. A.) (Gen 30:9) When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.

Leah had not been able to have any more children and she was beginning to fall behind in the struggle so she must have said to herself, if my sister can do it so can I. So to stay ahead of Rachel she gave Jacob her handmaid Zilpah. It was not God's will for marriages to be made like this for He intended one man and woman to have their family, but He used this scheme for His own purpose.

(Gen 30:10) And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son.

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Nothing is said about the consent or dislike by these handmaids of the situation in which they found themselves. They were servants and did whatever they were told. However, since having a child was the greatest privilege of a woman she would at least be thankful that she did not die in reproach though she was a slave.

For it seems he consented to take her to wife at the motion of Leah, as he had took Bilhah at the instance of Rachel; and having gratified the one, he could not well deny the other. (Gill) (Gen 30:11) And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad. Leah was now back in the race, so she had found a way to bring more children to her husband in hopes that some day the tide would turn and he would love her, and so she called him Gad, or “Fortunate.” She felt that she had been fortunate to at least continue in the quest for her husband’s affections. Besides this, she was the mother of half of Jacob's sons.

(Gen 30:12) And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son.

Jacob's life was becoming more complicated as time went on. This now made four wives for Jacob with four children by his first wife whom he hated, and two each by the handmaids so there were eight children and four women in his life. One grief remained, however, and that was the fact that Rachel still had no children of her own.

(Gen 30:13) And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

She named this one Asher or “Happiness,” because she was being fulfilled as a woman, with many children, which would cause the daughters [even though not her husband] to call her blessed. She knew that she would at least go down in history as a blessed woman for she had brought many sons into the world.

These two sons of Zilpah, according to the Jewish writers (d), were born, Gad on the tenth day of Marchesvan or October, and lived one hundred and twenty five years; and Asher on the twenty second day

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of Shebet or January, and lived one hundred and twenty three years. (d) Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 4. 1. (Gill) (Gen 30:14) And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.

Mandrakes are apples of the mandragora, an herb resembling belladonna, with a root like a carrot, having white and reddish blossoms of a sweet smell, and with yellow odoriferous apples, ripening in May and June, and supposed, according to Oriental superstition, to possess the virtue of conciliating love and promoting fruitfulness (vide Gesenius, p. 191, and cf. Rosenmüller's 'Seholia,' and Kalisch in loco) - in the field (when at his childish play), and brought them unto his mother Leah (which a son of more mature years would not have done). Then Rachel (not exempt from the prevailing superstition) said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes (in the hopes that they would remove her sterility).

(Pulpit Commentary) (Gen 30:15) And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.

Rachel should have known better than to think that Leah would give her the mandrakes, but she tried and then when it did not work, found a way to get them by hiring her husband out to the other woman, who happened also to be his wife but for whom he had no affection, and likely had not gone in unto for some time. Leah should also have remembered that it was not Rachel who took her husband, but her husband had loved Rachel first and took her when he had an opportunity.

(Gen 30:16) And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.

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Rachel should have known better than to think that Leah would give her the mandrakes, but she tried and then when it did not work, found a way to get them by hiring her husband out to the other woman, who happened also to be his wife but for whom he had no affection, and likely had not gone in unto for some time. Leah should also have remembered that it was not Rachel who took her husband, but her husband had loved Rachel first and took her when he had an opportunity.

(Gen 30:17) And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.

Now at least Leah was bearing children again and would have even another by Jacob, so at least he still paid some attention to her, though it was obvious he did not love her. Leah was still praying, we know, because we learn here that God hearkened to her. She never achieved her dream but the problem kept her on her knees.

(Gen 30:18) And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

This one, like all the others was named after the circumstances she faced at the time. She called him Issachar, or “Hired,” because her husband had been hired out to her through the mandrakes. She felt that it would be an opportunity for him to really be in love with her, but that is not how human nature works and again she was disappointed.

(Gen 30:19) And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.

This would give Leah six sons, exactly half of all his sons. Rachel had only two of them, and the handmaids had two each but Leah had excelled them all. She had not only given Jacob half of his children, but from among her children would the Messiah come forth, as well as the priesthood. In the end she achieved more than Rachel and the handmaids combined.

(Gen 30:20) And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.

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At least she would never give up hope. She kept trying to win her husband to the end. She never attained the position she wanted and never did get her husband to love her, but when she died she was put in the tomb where the forefathers were buried and thus she was at least buried with him. Rachel was buried near Bethlehem.

(Gen 30:21) And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.

It is very likely that other daughters were born into the family but Dinah is the only one mentioned, and that is because she was involved in the episode at Shechem. When the descendants of Jacob were listed as coming into Egypt there were daughters mentioned and it is likely this refers to other females, but because only males are generally mentioned we do not know who they were.

(Gen 30:22) And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

God had worked enough on the hatred of Jacob and his spirit was mellowed enough that now God could at least hear Rachel and give her a child.

God's favor towards Rachel was long in coming, and in the process she learned a lot of discipline. Her desire was granted after the important lessons of life were learned. She had learned dependence on God, patience with others, faith and hope in the plan of God. This brought out the gratitude that recognized God's hand in her life, and a heartfelt acknowledgement of God. (Gen 30:23) And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: With the children of Bilhah, the handmaid of Rachel, there was some relief in this situation, but it did not take away her reproach that she was a barren woman. She could not bear the child that would produce a Messiah, but she would have a child that would be the greatest type of Jesus in the Bible. More space is given to Joseph than any other character in the book of Genesis.

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(Gen 30:24) And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

Joseph means, “Adding.” He was the most beloved son of Jacob. In fact Jacob would later say, “You know that my wife bare me two sons.” He refused to recognize any other at times. He also made sure Joseph received the benefits of the birthright by taking his two sons for himself and making them two of the twelve tribes of Israel.

(Gen 30:25) And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.

What Eliezer had done in a few days Jacob was unable to do in twenty years. He should have gone home now, but again he allowed Laban to ensnare him for more service. It was obvious that he could not win, but he felt that it was impossible to leave because all he had was a family and he had no means for their livelihood. So once again he became ensnared with Laban.

(Gen 30:26) Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.

Jacob made an effort to go back to his home where he could have made a living for his family and built up an inheritance, but Laban saw that this was another opportunity to achieve more service from him and began the bargaining process to keep him around. He had everything to gain and nothing to lose by Jacob's presence so he did not want him to leave.

(Gen 30:27) And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.

One good thing about Laban was that he recognized where his blessing came from. He wanted to milk that blessing dry but at least he saw God working in Jacob’s life. It was good that Jacob kept a good testimony.

BLESSED FOR OTHERS (Gen_30:27)

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Act_27:44 Ship travelers blessed for Paul Exo_32:32 Moses Luk_13:8 Husbandman interceded Gen 18 Lot saved from Sodom EXPERIENCE 5. Experience: participation in events for knowledge.

EXPERIENCE Gen_30:27 Jos_1:8 Ecc_1:16 Rom_5:4 Rom_5:4 Num_16:29 Jdg_3:2 Heb_11:5 Exo_21:36 Exo_23:9 Job_4:7 Job_5:27 Job_8:10 Job_15:17 Job_15:17 Psa_16:11 Pro_1:31 Pro_20:29 Pro_23:22 Ecc_2:3 Isa_36:6 Isa_38:9 Isa_59:8 Joe_2:26 Luk_11:29 Luk_21:36 Act_26:16 Rom_12:2 2Co_1:6 2Co_8:22 2Co_12:5 Eph_3:18

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Phi_3:10 Phi_4:7 Col_2:2 Heb_5:8 Heb_5:9 Rev_18:7 (eks-pe'-ri-ens): This word is employed 3 times. In Gen_30:27 the King James Version, Laban says, to Jacob, "I have learned by experience (the Revised Version (British and American) "divined") that Yahweh hath blessed me for thy sake." Here it translates the Hebrew nachash, "to observe diligently," as when one examines the entrails of a bird or animal for the purpose of divination.

In Ecc_1:16, the writer says, "I have gotten me great wisdom ....; my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge." Here the Hebrew (ra'ah) means "hath seen abundantly," and the idea seems to be that of a wide outlook combined with actual trial of the things discovered or known.

In Rom_5:4 the King James Version, the Greek word dokime (the American Standard Revised Version more correctly "approvedness"), means the proof or testing of a thing. We rejoice in tribulation because it works out or produces patience, while the latter develops an experience of God, i.e. it brings out as a proved fact His power and love toward us in our preservation in and deliverance from trial.

Thus it is seen the Bible use of the word is not different from the ordinary, which means "the sum of practical wisdom taught by the events and observations of life," or, to go a little farther, the personal and practical acquaintance with what is so taught. Heb_5:13 gives a good practical example. the King James Version says, "Every one that useth milk is unskilful (apeiros) in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe," while the Revised Version (British and American) renders "unskilful" by "without experience of." The thought is that he who fails to search out the deep things of the word of God is so lacking in the exercise of his spiritual senses as to be unable really to know truth from error.

(International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia) EXPERIENCE We speak of our knowledge of sins forgiven and enjoyment of the favor of God as our Christian experience. It means the practical acquaintance with the work of God in man that results in the

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consciousness of salvation. Thus experience is the personal trial of all things and the consequent knowledge of it.

(Unger's Bible Dictionary) EXPERIENCE (Circumstances, Events, Lessons) How does God make use of the various experiences in our life?

BIBLE READING: Psa_34:1-22 KEY BIBLE VERSE: Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. (Psa_34:8, NIV) Every experience is an opportunity for spiritual growth. “Taste and see” does not mean, “Check out God’s credentials.” Instead it is a warm invitation: “Try this; I know you’ll like it.” When we take that first step of obedience in following God, we cannot help discovering that he is good and kind. When we begin the Christian life, our knowledge of God is partial and incomplete. As we trust him daily, we experience how good he is.

Experiences bring depth to our knowledge of God. You say you belong to the Lord, but do you fear him? To fear the Lord means to show deep respect and honor to him. We demonstrate true reverence by our humble attitude and genuine worship. Reverence was shown by Abraham (Gen_17:2-4), Moses (Exo_3:5-6), and the Israelites (Exo_19:16-24). Their reactions to God’s presence varied, but all deeply respected him.

Experiences teach us that God knows what we really need. At first we may question David’s statement in verse 10, because we seem to lack many good things. This is not a blanket promise that all Christians will have everything they want. Instead, this is David’s praise for God’s goodness—all those who call upon God in their need will be answered, sometimes in unexpected ways.

Remember, God knows what we need, and our deepest needs are spiritual. Many Christians, even though they face unbearable poverty and hardship, still have enough spiritual nourishment to live for God. David was saying that to have God is to have all you really need. God is enough.

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If you feel you don’t have everything you need, ask: (1) Is this really a need? (2) Is this really good for me? (3) Is this the best time for me to have what I desire? Even if you answer yes to all three questions, God may allow you to go without to help you grow more dependent on him. He may want you to learn that you need him more than your immediate desires.

BIBLE READING: Pro_6:20-35 KEY BIBLE VERSE: Young man, obey your father and your mother. Take to heart all of their advice; keep in mind everything they tell you. (Pro_6:20-21, TLB) Experiences allow us to counsel others from what God has taught us. This process is important in the family. It is natural and good for children, as they grow toward adulthood, to become increasingly independent of their parents. Young adults, however, should take care not to turn a deaf ear to their parents—to reject their advice just when it is needed most. If you are struggling with a decision or looking for insight, check with your parents or other older adults who know you well. Their extra years of experience may have given them the wisdom you seek.

BIBLE READING: Joh_1:35-42 KEY BIBLE VERSE: The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). (Joh_1:41, NIV) Experience with Christ allows us to know him better.

These new disciples used several names for Jesus: Lamb of God (1:36), Rabbi (1:38), Messiah (1:41), Son of God (1:49), and King of Israel (1:49). As they got to know Jesus, their appreciation for him grew. The more time we spend getting to know Christ, the more we will understand and appreciate who he is. We may be drawn to him for his teaching, but we will come to know him as the Son of God. Although these disciples made this verbal shift in a few days, they would not fully understand Jesus until three years later (Acts 2). What they so easily professed had to be worked out in experience.

We may find that words of faith come easily, but deep appreciation for Christ comes with living by faith.

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Related topics: CIRCUMSTANCES, CONSEQUENCES, SPIRITUAL GROWTH (Gen 30:28) And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.

It did not really matter what Jacob would agree on for wages, because Laban had never kept his promise on wages yet, so he surely was not ready to change.

A Divine benediction is always invisibly breathed on painful and lawful diligence. Thus the servant employed in making and blowing of the fire, though sent away thence as soon as it burneth clear, ofttimes getteth by his pains a more kindly and continuing heat than the master himself who sitteth down by the same; and thus persons industriously occupying themselves thrive better on a little of their own honest getting than lazy heirs on the large revenues left unto them. (Fuller) (Gen 30:29) And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.

It appears that what he wanted to say at this point was, “You would have nothing if I had not helped you to gain all these things, and I need to go home, so you should let me have some of your cattle and send me away.” But instead he bogged down into another bargain with Laban. He had met his match in cunning.

What though you have found no treasure, nor has any friend left you a rich legacy! Diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry. Then plough deep while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell or to keep. Work while it is called to-day, for you know not how much you may be hindered to-morrow. One to-day is worth two to-morrows, as poor Richard says; and further, never leave that till to-morrow which you can do to-day.

(Franklin) (Gen 30:30) For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?

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Jacob now revealed his plight, while mentioning nothing about his wish to have a gift and go home, and then this gave Laban his chance.

A good salesman knows when he has made the sale and Laban knew he had his man, for he was caught in a bind. He had a family and no provisions, and Laban was not about to give him any but he would let him work for them.

(Gen 30:31) And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock: Jacob relented once again and found out that there was no way to get around this heel grabber that was paying him in his own coin.

Many things that happen to us is because He has weighed our spirit and given us accordingly. As Hannah said when she overcame her adversary, He weighs the actions of men (1Sa_2:3).

(Gen 30:32) I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.

Since Jacob was embroiled with this cunning man, and Jacob was a cunning man himself, he would try once more to outwit him. Had he only had that ability about him, he would have lost this one also, but God was with Jacob to give him an inheritance so Laban lost on this one. God would only allow him to go so far, because God had designs for the son of Abraham.

(Gen 30:33) So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.

And sure enough, his righteousness would answer for him. God would see his faithfulness, and God knew that this was His servant, and He would not allow Laban to take everything away from him.

He is willing to refer himself to the providence of God, which, he knew, extends itself to the smallest things, even the color of the

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cattle; and he will be content to have for his wages the sheep and goats of such and such a color, speckled, spotted, and brown, which should hereafter be brought forth, Gen_30:32, Gen_30:33.

(Matthew Henry) (Gen 30:34) And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.

He sounded very agreeable at this time, but he knew that if he had anything to do with it there would be no doing it according to the words of Jacob, but once he was working in his fields, he would have plenty of opportunity of changing his wages, which Jacob said later he did ten times. Laban was even more cunning than Jacob who was known for such.

(Gen 30:35) And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.

Jacob was able to join in the conniving game, but here and many another place he was sincere and honest. He appeared to have hope that he could honestly obtain the wealth he needed before he left this place, and then leave in peace. He was getting old and needed to build up an inheritance to leave to his own children.

(Gen 30:36) And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.

Jacob knew better than to keep the two herds together, for if he did there would be some noticeable herd of Jacob mysteriously winding up in Laban’s pens.

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. (Gill)

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(Gen 30:37) And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.

Jacob was following a superstition of the time in hopes again of gaining Laban’s sheep by magic methods, but God did not work with these, instead He caused the sheep that had belonged to Laban to now belong to Jacob by natural means. In spite of all Jacob's efforts, the only scheme that would work is the one that God Himself organized.

(Gen 30:38) And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.

Jacob wanted to influence the bearing of sheep and goats so as to build up his flock, so the old Jacob was still not dead. He had mellowed, and now realized there were others who could also play the game, but still could not fully give up his ways. It would take the wrestling with God at Peniel in order to conquer the old Jacob and make him to be Israel.

(Gen 30:39) And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.

It could be that in the beginning of this superstition Jacob thought it might have been due to this trickery that he was obtaining results, but he realized later, it was God who gave him his increase. We sometimes fool ourselves because we have certain skills, but it is God who is the one who actually gives us the power to gain the wealth we have (Deu_8:18).

(Gen 30:40) And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle.

He naturally would want to keep them far apart because he wanted to do all he could to ensure that his flock grew. I doubt if he was so much wanting Laban’s to decrease, but he certainly wanted his own to increase.

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Strong impressions, it seems, are made by the eye, with which therefore we have need to make a covenant. (Matthew Henry) (Gen 30:41) And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.

Jacob very faithfully stuck to his superstition, hoping that with this magic and with God’s help he could have an inheritance out of this.

Now this does not apply merely to two births from the same female in one year, which actually did take place according to the rabbins, the first in Nisan, about our March, and the second in Tisri, about our September; but it more particularly refers to early and late lambs, etc., in the same year; as those that are born just at the termination of winter, and in the very commencement of spring, are every way more valuable than those which were born later in the same spring. (Adam Clarke) (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.

Such superstitions usually only work when there are demon powers working behind them, but in this case I doubt if God was allowing their power to function, but instead was giving to Jacob what he needed because this was a man He would be working through to form a nation. Later it appears that Jacob realized God was the one who gave him his increase.

(Gen 30:43) And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

God began to turn things around for Jacob because it was time for him and his family to go back to the Promised Land. In fact, it had been time long ago, but Jacob kept getting more and more involved with Laban and there is no record of his consulting God about all this business. That could have made a great difference in how things turned out for him.

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