Genesis 30:14-16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 30:14-24

Here is, I. Leah fruitful again, after she had, for some time, left off bearing. Jacob, it should seem, associated more with Rachel than with Leah. The law of Moses supposes it a common case that, if a man had two wives, one would be beloved and the other hated, Deut. 21:15. But at length Rachel's strong passions betrayed her into a bargain with Leah that Jacob should return to her apartment. Reuben, a little lad, five or six years old, playing in the field, found mandrakes, dudaim. It is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:14

And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest ,.... Leah's eldest son, who is supposed to be at this time about four or five years of age F5 Shalshaley Hakabala, fol. 3. 2. , who went out from the tent to the field, to play there perhaps; and this was at the time of wheat harvest, in the month Sivan, as the Targum of Jonathan, which answers to part of our May; a time of the year when the earth is covered with flowers: and found mandrakes in the field ; the flowers or fruit of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:15

And she said unto her ,.... Leah to Rachel, taking this opportunity to bring out a thing which had some time lain with uneasiness upon her mind: is it a small thing that thou hast taken away my husband ? got the greatest share of his affections, and had most of his company; which last was very probably the case, and more so, since Leah had left off bearing; and this she could not well stomach, and therefore upon this trifling occasion outs with it: and wouldest thou take away my... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 30:16

And Jacob came out of the field in the evening ,.... From feeding his flocks: and Leah went out to meet him ; knowing full well the time he used to come home: and said, thou must come in unto me ; into her tent, for the women had separate tents from the men; as Sarah from Abraham; and so these wives of Jacob had not only tents separate from his, but from one another: for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes : that is, she had hired that night's lodging with him of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 30:14

Reuben - found mandrakes - דודאים dudaim . What these were is utterly unknown, and learned men have wasted much time and pains in endeavoring to guess out a probable meaning. Some translate the word lilies, others jessamine, others citrons, others mushrooms, others figs, and some think the word means flowers, or fine flowers in general. Hasselquist, the intimate friend and pupil of Linne, who traveled into the Holy Land to make discoveries in natural history, imagines that the plant... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 30:15

Thou hast taken my husband - It appears probable that Rachel had found means to engross the whole of Jacob's affection and company, and that she now agreed to let him visit the tent of Leah, on account of receiving some of the fruits or plants which Reuben had found. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 30:16

I have hired thee - We may remark among the Jewish women an intense desire of having children; and it seems to have been produced, not from any peculiar affection for children, but through the hope of having a share in the blessing of Abraham, by bringing forth Him in whom all the nations of the earth were to be blessed. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 30:14

Verse 14 14.And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest. This narration of the fact that a boy brought home I know not what kind of fruit out of the fields, and presented it to his mother, by which she purchased of her sister one nigh with her husband, has the appearance of being light and puerile. Yet it contains a useful instruction. For we know how foolishly the Jews glory in extolling the origin of their own nation: for they scarcely deign to acknowledge that they leave sprung from Adam... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 30:15

Verse 15 15.Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? Moses leaves more for his readers to reflect upon than he expresses in words; namely, that Jacob’s house had been filled with contentions and strifes. For Leah speaks haughtily, because her mind had been long so exasperated that she could not address herself mildly and courteously to her sister: Perhaps the sisters were not thus contentious by nature; but God suffered them to contend with each other, that the punishment of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 30:14

And Reuben (at this time four or five years old) went (probably accompanying the reapers) in the days of wheat harvest , and found mandrakes — דּוּדָאים , μῆλα μαδραγορῶν , ( LXX ; Josephus), apples of the mandragora, an herb resembling belladonna, with a root like a carrot, having white and reddish blossoms of a sweet smell, and with yellow odoriferous apples, ripening in May and June, and supposed, according to Oriental superstition, to possess the virtue of... read more

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