That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
When wild animals killed any of your sheep or goats, I didn't bring the torn carcass to you. Instead, I took the loss myself and paid you back with my own animals. You made me responsible for replacing any animal that was stolen, whether it happened during the day or at night.
Jacob is telling Laban that he went above and beyond his duties as a shepherd by personally covering all losses, even those that weren't his fault.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, Jacob had fled from his brother Esau and sought refuge with his uncle Laban in Haran, where he entered into a labor agreement to work as a shepherd in exchange for marriage and wages. Over the years, Jacob demonstrated extraordinary diligence in managing Laban's flocks, even under exploitative conditions. This verse highlights Jacob's accountability for losses due to predators or theft, reflecting the harsh realities of ancient shepherding contracts in the Near East.
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