Rabbi Israel answers : Had he had sons, though ever so young,
he would not have sent a daughter into the field, he would
have sent Bilhah or Zilpah ; but because he had no sons, and
his daughters would be his heirs, he sent a daughter, as she
would be sure to tend the sheep faithfully, being her interest
to do so ; and did not send Bilhah or Zilpah, because, being
the childreu of concubines, and disqualified from being heirs,
they would not be faithful in tending the flocks.
• 28 And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and / will give it ;
only remain here. The Toldoth Yitzkhac says ; Laban had
more daughters, and he proposed, " One female more shall be
thy wages,! Q^iy serve me." But Jacob replied, "I have no;iV
wives enough." •

30 The Ljjrd hath blessed thee since my coming. Jacob said
to Laban, " I have served thee honestly, and God blessed thee
for my sake."

31 And he said. What shall L give thee? And Jacob said.
Thou shall not give me anything, for my past service ; for my
past service was for the women. But if thou wilt retain me in

' T13EJ' napJ. The verb which means "fix " or "appoint," by altering
its vowel points thus n3p^, means "female."



'9° RABBINICAL COMMENTARY.
thy service, thou must go with me through thy flock, and re-
move from thence all the speckled and spotted, and of such
shall in future be my hire ; and if thou find among my sheep,
or the goats, any that are not speckled or spotted, and brown
among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.
