“The man became exceedingly prosperous, and he had many flocks, and maidservants and slaves, and camels and donkeys” (Genesis 30:43). “The man became…prosperous” – Rabbi Shimon bar Abba said: It teaches that a breach was opened for him that was a microcosm of the World to Come, just as it says: “The one who breaks through21This is a reference to the messianic king. ascended before them” (Micah 2:13).
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Our patriarch Jacob had one million twenty-seven thousand two hundred flocks. Rabbi Levi said: Six hundred thousand dogs. The Rabbis said: One million two hundred thousand. They do not disagree.
The one who said six hundred thousand, there was one dog for each and every flock. The one who said: One million two hundred thousand, there were two dogs for each and every flock.