But Abel brought some of the firstborn of his flock -- even the fattest of them. And the Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering,

Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs apart from the flock by themselves.

Go to the flock and get me two of the best young goats. I'll prepare them in a tasty way for your father, just the way he loves them.

Jacob removed these lambs, but he made the rest of the flock face the streaked and completely dark-colored animals in Laban's flock. So he made separate flocks for himself and did not mix them with Laban's flocks.

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

If he said, 'The speckled animals will be your wage,' then the entire flock gave birth to speckled offspring. But if he said, 'The streaked animals will be your wage,' then the entire flock gave birth to streaked offspring.

"Once during breeding season I saw in a dream that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled, and spotted.

Then he said, 'Observe that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled, or spotted, for I have observed all that Laban has done to you.

He replied, "I'll send you a young goat from the flock." She asked, "Will you give me a pledge until you send it?"