Genesis 30:14

_AND REUBEN WENT IN THE DAYS OF WHEAT HARVEST, AND FOUND MANDRAKES IN THE FIELD, AND BROUGHT THEM UNTO HIS MOTHER LEAH. THEN RACHEL SAID TO LEAH, GIVE ME, I PRAY THEE, OF THY SON'S MANDRAKES._ Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes, [Hebrew, _ DUWDAA'IYM_ (H1736); Septuagint, meela mandragoroon] (cf. Song of Solomon 7:13) (Atropa mandragora, Linnoeus) - a plant resembling the Belladonna, a beet-like root-with fragrant blossoms of a white and reddish hue, which are universally believed by the Orientals to possess the property of aiding conception. The literature on this subject is immense; and the different views entertained regarding the identity of the plant are too many even for enumeration. The following description of it by a traveler of great intelligence, as well as extensive oppor

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 and Noah, with the rest of mankind. And certainly they do excel in the dignity of their ancestors, as Paul testifies, (Romans 9:5,) but they do not acknowledge this as coming from God. Wherefore the Spirit purposely aimed at beating down this arrogance, when he described their race as sprung from a beginning, so mean and abject. For he does not here erect a splendid stage on which they may exhibit themsel

14-24 The desire, good in itself, but often too great and irregular, of being the mother of the promised Seed, with the honour of having many children, and the reproach of being barren, were causes of this unbecoming contest between the sisters. The truth appears to be, that they were influenced by the promises of God to Abraham; whose posterity were promised the richest blessings, and from whom the Messiah was to descend....

Verse Genesis 30:14. _REUBEN - FOUND MANDRAKES_] דודאים _dudaim_. What these were is utterly unknown, and learned men have wasted much time and pains in endeavouring 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 travelled into the Holy Land to make discoveries in natural history, imagines that the plant commonly called _mandrake_ is intended; speaking of Nazareth in Galilee he says: "What I found most remarkable at this village was a great number of _mandrakes_ which grew in a vale below it. I had not the pleasure to see this plant in blossom, the _fruit now_ (May 5th, O. S.) hanging ripe to th...

- Jacob’s Family and Wealth 6. דן _dān_, Dan, “judge, lord.” 8. נפתלי _naptālı̂y_, Naphtali, “wrestling.” 11. גד _gād_, Gad, “overcoming, victory.” בגד _bāgād_, “in victory or” =גד בא _bā'_ _gād_, “victory cometh.” גוּד _gûd_, “press down.” גדוּד _g__e__dûd_, “troop.” 13. אשׁר _'ǎashēr_, Asher, “prosperity, happiness.”

EXPOSITION 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 conciliating love and promoting fruitfulness_—_IN THE FIELD (when at his childish play), AND BROUGHT THEM UNTO HIS MOTHER LEAH (which a son of more mature years would not have done). THEN RACHEL (not exempt from the prevailing

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 e, 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 mandrakes, mandrake apples, as the Septuagint. This plant is said to excite love, provoke lust, dispose for, and help conception; for which reasons it is thought Rachel was so desirous of these "mandrakes", which seem to have their name "dudaim" from love: the word is only used here and in Song of Solomon 7:13; where they are commended for their good smell, and therefore cannot be the plant which goes now by that name; si

CHAPTER 30 JACOB WITH LABAN _ 1. The sons of Bilhah: Dan and Naphtali (Genesis 30:1)_ 2. The sons of Zilpah: Gad and Asher (Genesis 30:9) 3. The children of Leah: Issachar, Zebulon and Dinah (Genesis 30:14) 4. The birth of Joseph (Genesis 30:22) 5. Jacob's request to return (Genesis 30:25) 6. Laban's confession and Jacob's prosperity (Genesis 30:27) Little comment is needed on this. The avarice and dec

GENESIS 29:31 TO GENESIS 30:24. THE BIRTH OF JACOB'S CHILDREN. This section is from JE, with slight touches from P. Roughly Genesis 29:31; Genesis 30:9 is from J, Genesis 30:1; Genesis 30:8 is from E, Genesis 30:14 mainly from JE, the two strands here being hard to unravel. It records the origin of the tribes of Israel. It reflects conditions a good deal earlier than those kno

MANDRAKES. Septuagint _mandragora,_ the root easily formed, by pinching it, into the shape of. man. Hence its name; also supposed to be and used as. "love-philtre". Arabic. "apples of Satan"....