Genesis

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NASB	Genesis 30:14 ¶ Now in the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."
AMPLIFIED 2015 2015	Genesis 30:14 ¶ Now at the time of wheat harvest Reuben [the eldest child] went and found some mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."

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Subject: Why did Rachel want the mandrakes?

Bible Note: Another excellent question, prayon!

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible comments, "MANDRAKE- 'love apples,' cf. root, 'love'.- Although other plants have been suggested, the mandrake (Mandragora officinarum), of the Solanaceae or Potato order, is most probable. It is a common plant in all parts of South Palestine. Its long and branched root is very deeply imbedded in the earth, and an old superstition survives today that he who digs it up will be childless- but at the same time the effort of pulling it up will cure a bad lumbago. When the last fibres give way and the root comes up, a semi-human scream is supposed to be emitted. Occasionally the root resembles a human figure, but most of those exhibited have been 'doctored' to heighten the resemblance. The leaves are dark green, arranged in a rosette, and the flowers dark purple. The fruit, which ripens about May, about the time of the wheat harvest, is somewhat like a small tomato, and orange or reddish in colour: it is called by the natives baid el-jinn, 'the eggs of the jinn.' It has a heavy narcotic smell and sweetish taste. It is still used medicinally, but is known to be poisonous, especially the seeds. The mandrake was known to the ancients as an aphrodisiac." (pg. 576, Hendrickson, 1909, 1994)

The MacArthur NKJV Study Bible adds, "This odd and desperate bargain by Rachel was an attempt to become pregnant with the aid of the mandrakes, a fable which failed to understand that God gives children (vv. 6,17,20,22)."

The Nelson NKJV Study Bible comments, "Mandrakes are a special type of herb that the peoples of the ancient Middle East regarded as an aid to conception. Their aroma was associated with lovemaking (Song of Solomon 7:13). Reuben's discovery of the mandrakes led to another squabble between Leah and Rachel. In the end, Leah hired Jacob for a night with her."

Zondervan's NASB Study Bible comments, "Rachel, like Jacob (vv. 37-43), tried to obtain what she wanted by magical means."

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Genesis

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