Rachel and Leah: Rueben’s mandrakes

The house of Jacob was a tension house. Imagine the drama between Rachel camp and Leah’s camp, the rivalry,  the envy, the competition and possibly the desire to get Jacob’s attention. I am not sure how Jacob managed to get his head together in such a toxic environment but definitely, Jacob was not the happiest man in the world. Rachel and Leah’s daily lives would have been full of quarreling, arguments and bitter feelings. This was the state of Jacob’s family. For God to still use such a broken family for His own glory is a reminder that no one is too broken or too bad for God to use. Jacob continued to work for his father-in-law while his wives took care of the home. One day, Rueben, Leah’s first born son went to the fields “and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?” “Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.” (Genesis 30:14‭-‬15)

So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night. (Genesis 30:16)

What are the mandrakes used for and why did Rachel pay for the mandrakes with “a night with Jacob?” In the ancient world, mandrakes were used for different purposes including  enhancing romance and for fertility.  Therefore, Rachel’s request for the mandrakes seem to be appropriate since she was battling with childbearing issues. Leah also needed the mandrakes because after her fourth son, she ceased childbearing. However, since Jacob favoured Rachel over Leah, the payment for the mandrakes was a night with Jacob. Far away on the fields,  Jacob did not know of the transaction between Rachel and Leah. There was no cell phone to communicate this to Jacob. “So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night” (Genesis 30:16). Jacob had no choice, he might have had another plan for the evening but he was obliged to sleep with Leah. He had no choice in this transaction but he was the price for mandrakes. Imagine the joy in Leah’s heart and the pressure on Jacob to pay for Rachel’s mandrakes. Jacob’s family could have easily passed for a popular drama series. The plots of their lives were so complicated and viewers will be glued to know what next. Rueben’s mandrakes became Leah’s opportunity to sleep with Jacob and this is what happened:

“God listened to Leah, and she became pregnant and bore Jacob a fifth son. Then Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my servant to my husband.” So she named him Issachar. Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son. Then Leah said, “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun. Some time later she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.(Genesis 30:17‭-‬21). Rachel was the one looking for the potency of the mandrakes but Leah who exchanged the mandrakes for Jacob had more babies. Did Leah pray to God? Why did vrs.17 begin with “God listened?” The one night with Jacob resulted in a son (Issachar) and later Leah had another son (Zebulun) and then a daughter (Dinah). All these while, Rachel remained childless except the two sons of her servant. Whenever I read these verses,  I am thrilled, God indeed has a good sense of humour. Why would Rachel receive all the love yet remain childless and Leah the unloved one receive all the babies? From another viewpoint, we see that both Rachel and Leah showed trust in the potency of the mandrakes to make one fertile. However, the Rachel who got the fertility plant did not even have a child, but Leah did.

As we study the lives of Rachel and Leah, we are reminded to put our trust in God and to look up to Him for our desires. We are also reminded that no matter our past story, God can still do something with us. Mandrakes are good but ultimately, God is the giver of the desires of our hearts. We should therefore take our attention from “the potency of mandrakes” and rather focus on “the power of God.” Is there anything too hard for the Lord? (Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17; Luke 18:27).