Why Reuben Took Only Ownerless Mandrakes at Harvest Time

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 30:14

"And Reuben went in the days of the wheat harvest" (Genesis 30:14). From here [we learn] that the righteous do not stretch out their hands in robbery, for behold, Reuben went during the days of the wheat harvest, and yet he brought back only mandrakes, which have no owner; and Reuben tied the mandrakes onto his donkey and brought them out.

Themes

Biblical References