Jacob, Laban, and Genetics

[DianaCC]

In Genesis 30, Jacob tricks Laban into giving him the majority of Laban’s flocks by getting him to agree to give him all the cattle with mixed-color coats.

Is there a genetic basis for Jacob’s success?

 

[Huiou_Theou]

In Genesis 30, Jacob tricks Laban into giving him the majority of Laban’s flocks by getting him to agree to give him all the cattle with mixed-color coats.

Is there a genetic basis for Jacob’s success?

Hi Diana,
You’re asking if something like selection of mating pairs caused the mottled coats?
That’s part of the point of the story, although Jacob uses “magic” to make it happen. eg: The stripping of wood in a certain way, and placing it before them to cause a certain mating pattern to happen.

I am not certain of the origins of the particular action Jacob takes, but there is a unique word in the Greek version of the old testament which means to “mate while in desire”.

Notably, this word shows up in psalm 51 where King David talks about his mother mating in lust, bringing him into the world in sin. So there is something in ancient belief or rudimentary science about the state of a person or animal mating with some kind of cravings causing the young to be born disfigured. For that reason, I would say the passage isn’t really talking about genetics in the sense that we would today – and that Jacob isn’t just tricking Laban, but is actively using something he believes can damage the animals to make them become his.
He is stealing them in the sense that he knows if he doesn’t interfere, they will breed normally and Laban get his normal share – but he is being somewhat despicable in testing God’s patience by not asking him directly, but using a voodoo of sorts…

God himself, will not accept speckled and spotted sheep and cattle in sacrifice in the temple, desert, and elsewhere – yet these sheep and cattle are the ones which will be inherited by Jacobs children throughout the ages. So, what Jacob did – has to be undone. Again, it is divine intervention – and not the act of a human.
Jacob could have painted the sheep with dye, or other methods – but he chooses a method that at least speaks belief in the powers of God – and also a method that Shows Jacob wishes to manipulate God.

When Jacob later wrestles with an angel (and prevails), the same pattern is repeated. God already promised to bless Jacob, and yet Jacob tries to usurp God in a wrestling match. For this, he is given the name Is-Ra-El, he who does evil to God ( ‘THE’ Alpha God, El – from the house of God “Beth-El” in the same story ). It doesn’t ever seem to occur to Jacob that he won because God allowed him to, and that his “magic” although insulting was allowed to prevail by promise not might – and that Jacob’s affliction from the wrestling match is a punishment of sorts that appears to go on to all of Jacob’s children in the form of a ritual law.

In any event, I think genetics would be an objective way that God could have made these events play out – including a weak thigh – and speckled sheep.

 

[DianaCC]

You’re asking if something like selection of mating pairs caused the mottled coats? … including a weak thigh…

Jacob *thinks *the sticks do something. Or maybe there was a chemical in the wood that went into the drinking water. At any rate, mixed-color coats are often the phenotypes of heterozygous alleles with incomplete dominance. Descendants of these tend to be heterozygous, so mixed-color coats would turn up more often than solid-color coats giving Jacob the advantage especially if he selectively bred for mixed-color. And weak thigh in the Bible can also mean reproductive weakness, since “thigh” can be a euphemism, cf. Genesis 24:9, ironically for Jacob.

 

[Huiou_Theou]

Jacob *thinks *the sticks do something. Or maybe there was a chemical in the wood that went into the drinking water. At any rate, mixed-color coats are often the phenotypes of heterozygous alleles with incomplete dominance. Descendants of these tend to be heterozygous,

I agree with Jacob “thinking” the sticks do something. Exactly what I am not sure.
So you think his choice was the naturally smarter one. Since mixed colors are more likely in incomplete dominance; OK. I think that’s reasonable.

so mixed-color coats would turn up more often than solid-color coats giving Jacob the advantage especially if he selectively bred for mixed-color.

Odd, sacrificing the clean unspotted sheep/firstborn would also tend to increase the odds of there being speckled sheep and cattle – sort of un-natural selection. Yet, that isn’t what ended up happening historically. That’s the problem with genetic theory, there are contradictory outcomes with explanations that only seem to be added after the fact.

And weak thigh in the Bible can also mean reproductive weakness, since “thigh” can be a euphemism, cf. Genesis 24:9, ironically for Jacob.

I don’t quite see that. The thigh is the place of the sword. It is where a strong man is strongest … and is a symbol perhaps of children who will fight for their mother.
I don’t see any examples that clearly show a thigh to be a euphamism. For example, when used of a woman – her “belly” (womb) and reproductive organs are mentioned separate from her thigh. One never says “thigh” meaning womb.

In the case of Genesis 24:9 – I have heard comments, I think from Scott Hahn, but don’t quote me on that… check it – where he claims that the thigh here represents the testes of Abraham. It is a test-e-mony – or some such. But the practice is not consistent with reproductive situations. It is used to swear an oath, much as an english knight would place his hand under the sword (hilt) while swearing an oath to the king, meaning his life – and sword – are consecrated to the king. I would read that passage about Abraham in the same light. His weapon is at his side, and he wants his servant to place his hand to the weapon while swearing an oath.

If you have a clear example, or can explain what you mean, I’d enjoy the thoughts. If not, perhaps you will spend some time searching the scriptures for the use of thigh; and come back to it later?

Peace to you.

 

[Crumpy]

The Jewish Study Bible (Oxford Universty Press) explains the strategy. It was a folklore that the animals would produce the color of something they saw. So, the goats which are normally dark in the Near East, produced kids with patches of white when they saw the white wood stakes.

And, the sheep, which are normally white, were placed in view of the streaked or wholly dark animals so that they would produce lambs with dark patches.

So, it is said that Jacob achieved wealth by his trickery and the blessing of God.

 

[StrawberryJam]

The Jewish Study Bible (Oxford Universty Press) explains the strategy. It was a folklore that the animals would produce the color of something they saw. So, the goats which are normally dark in the Near East, produced kids with patches of white when they saw the white wood stakes.

And, the sheep, which are normally white, were placed in view of the streaked or wholly dark animals so that they would produce lambs with dark patches.

So, it is said that Jacob achieved wealth by his trickery and the blessing of God.