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 ." 15 But she said to her, "Is it a small matter for you to take my husband ? And would you take my son's mandrakes also ?" So Rachel said , "Therefore he may lie with you tonight in return for your son's mandrakes ." 16 When Jacob came in from the field in the evening , then Leah went out to meet him and said , "You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son's mandrakes ." So he lay with her that night . 17 God gave heed to Leah , and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son . 18 Then Leah said , "God has given me my wages because I gave my maid to my husband ." So she named him Issachar . 19 Leah conceived again and bore a sixth son to Jacob . 20 Then Leah said , "God has endowed me with a good gift ; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons ." So she named him Zebulun . 21 Afterward she bore a daughter and named e her Dinah . 22 Then God remembered Rachel , and God gave heed to her and opened her womb . 23 So she conceived and bore a son and said , "God has taken away my reproach ." 24 She named e him Joseph , saying , " May the Lord give me another son ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 30:14-24
Commentary on Genesis 30:14-24
(Read Genesis 30:14-24)
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.