Genesis 30:39

30:39 When the sheep mated ¹  in front of the branches, they ²  gave birth to young that were streaked or speckled or spotted.

Genesis 30:41

30:41 When the stronger females were in heat, ³  Jacob would set up the branches in the troughs in front of the flock, so they would mate near the branches.

Genesis 33:2

33:2 He put the servants and their children in front, with Leah and her children behind them, and Rachel and Joseph behind them. ⁴ 

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¹ tn The Hebrew verb used here can mean “to be in heat” (see v. 38) or “to mate; to conceive; to become pregnant.” The latter nuance makes better sense in this verse, for the next clause describes them giving birth.

² tn Heb “the sheep.” The noun has been replaced by the pronoun (“they”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.

³ tn Heb “and at every breeding-heat of the flock.”

⁴ sn This kind of ranking according to favoritism no doubt fed the jealousy over Joseph that later becomes an important element in the narrative. It must have been painful to the family to see that they were expendable.