In the book of Genesis, where Jacob bred the sheep of Laban,?

Question

I've never understood why he (Jacob) wanted the animals to mate in front of these trees. Every Bible is a different translation, some translations say rods, some say speckled and some spotted, some even say streaked, but whichever translation, what did they have to do with it? Why did the animals face the trees to mate? I've never gotten that part? Was there supposed to be something in them? Or maybe the animals got excited over those colors? Maybe they were something like catnip is to cats?

Answer 1

Genesis 31 says
4 So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were. 5 He said to them, "I see that your father's attitude toward me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I've worked for your father with all my strength, 7 yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me. 8 If he said, 'The speckled ones will be your wages,' then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, 'The streaked ones will be your wages,' then all the flocks bore streaked young. 9 So God has taken away your father's livestock and has given them to me.

10 "In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted. 11 The angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob.' I answered, 'Here I am.' 12 And he said, 'Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.' "

--This has to do with Laban cheating Jacob-- It is symbolic.

Answer 2

Tethers.

Does the term "stump broke" mean anything to you?

Answer 3

Maybe God told him.

Answer 4

why i am