“... It is clear that Jacob carried out an artifice with the rods to make these animals reproduce in abnormal colours. The idea was that the animals looked at the “spotted rods” when they bred, so that they gave birth to spotted lambs. One can conclude that the rods were endowed with magic powers. Another possible example of imitative magic may be found in 2 Kings 6:1-7 where the sons of the prophets felt that their dwelling was too small. They went to Elisha to ask permission to go to the Jordan to get logs to make a place for them to dwell there. While they were busy cutting down the trees, an axe borrowed from another person fell into the river. Elisha came to their rescue. He asked: “Where did it fall?” When he was shown the place, he cut off a stick, and threw it in the river and made the iron float. Here one can consider the act as an example of imitative magic. ...”