Sheepshearers
Shearing the sheep
Shearing sheep in the Bible often represents the idea of provision and abundance by different means and methods. The act of shearing is associated with the harvest of wool as a commodity, which is a valuable resource for making clothing, tents, and other uses.
Biblically it can symbolize purification, renewal, and sacrifice, in a spiritual sense. It can represent purification and shedding worldly burdens through renewal, or it can symbolize the humble, silent submission of Jesus Christ, as described in Isaiah 53:7.
This idea of "sheep" and "shearing sheep" has been seen as a negative metaphor in the sense, of being taken advantage of or taking advantage of someone or profiting from them regularly.
for God's provision for His people, illustrating how He supplies their needs and blesses them with resources.
The metaphor of "shearing sheep" in relation to Laban often symbolizes exploitation and self-interest. Laban, who shears sheep, represents a character more focused on personal gain rather than the well-being of others, reflecting a broader theme of manipulation and greed in relationships.
Laban and shearing
Genesis 31: "19 And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's."
When Laban went to shear his sheep he discover his "images" had been stolen.
Why then?
Terah, his grandfather who made these images when he worked for Nimrod, was an idolaters.
Paul tells us that covetous practices is idolatry.[1]
Nimrod operated a government that ade the people human resources, or what Peter called merchandise.
David and Paul tells us their tables or systems of welfare are a snare and a trap.
Rachel had stolen the images that [were] her father's; afterwards called gods, which he made ...
Talmud and metaphors
In the Talmud, the metaphor of "shearing sheep" often represents the act of taking advantage of others or exploiting them, particularly in the context of leaders or shepherds who fail to care for their flock. It highlights themes of responsibility and the consequences of neglecting one's duties towards those under one's care.
Gifts to the Kohanim: The first shearing of a sheep's wool is a mitzvah, where a portion must be given to the priests (Kohanim). This reflects the importance of sharing resources and supporting religious leaders.
Shear by consent
Genesis 37:2 "These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil (רָעָ֖ה raah) report (דִּבָּתָ֥ם dibbāṯām)."
Were they feeding the flock or tending the the people who followed Israel and who cared for their flock but tithed to Jacob as Abraham tithed to Melchizedek?
Were the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah trying to exercise authority over the people like the Abimelech and the Edomites would do?
Eventually the people would desire a ruler, Saul, who forced an offering.
Signet bracelets staff
The Signet, bracelets, and staff of Genesis 38[2] were symbols of authority to shear the people among the Adullamite who were Canaanites. The system used by Judah was not the way of Jacob.
Tamar, like Rachel, wanted the Signet, bracelets, and staff that represented that authority and played the Harlot to get it.
That system again tends to make the people human resources, can bring in the One Purse system that usher in the cities of blood seducing the masses with the wages of unrighteousness and the dainties of rulers.
It takes strength to bind the people together with faith, hope and charity and trust in God.
Vilfredo Pareto who was a sociologist, economist, and a philosopher had several quotes like, “The world has always belonged to the stronger, and will belong to them for many years to come. Men only respect those who make themselves respected. Whoever becomes a lamb will find a wolf to eat him” or "An army of sheep commanded by a lion is more formidable than an army of lions commanded by a sheep" or "A lion doesn't concern himself with the opinions of sheep".
- ↑ Covetousness is idolatry
- Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"
- Ephesians 5:5 "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."
- 1 Corinthians 5:10 "Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."
- For it is written that the tables of dainties provided by rulers of the world are a snare because they cause the masses to bite one another through government systems of legal charity which are covetous practices which are a form of fornication or adultery where the people are devoured as merchandise, curse children and are "entangled again in the yoke of bondage" with the aid of the false religion of the whore who rides the beast.
- ↑ 18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.