Genesis 31:40
“Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.”
This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
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.
Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
Counter-Arguments
The strongest case that this verse does not belong in this theme.
Cross-References
“And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.”
“Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;”
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”
“He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:”
“And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.”