A student of mine, Luke Jankovic, tracing the motif of “donkeys” in Genesis, came up with a couple of interesting angles. First, he noted that Abram first acquires donkeys in Egypt in Genesis 12, a proto-plundering of Egypt. And in this context the donkeys are involved in a dowry paid to Abram by Pharaoh. Later, Abram himself gives donkeys to Rebekah’s father. From a receiver of donkeys, Abram becomes a giver of donkeys. And when he gives donkeys he proves himself an equal of Pharaoh.
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