Leah and Rachel Bargain Over the Mandrakes and Jacob's Night

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 30:15

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"Is it a small thing that you have taken," etc. (Genesis 30:15). Leah said to Rachel: Is it not enough for you that you took my husband, whose heart was drawn after you? Rachel said to Leah: Leah, he is not your husband but my husband, and for my sake he came from Beersheba; and only because I handed over to you the signs did he become your husband. "Therefore he shall lie with you tonight." Because it was Jacob's custom to lie with Leah one night and with Rachel one night, and that night was Rachel's night, and she gave him over to Leah in exchange for the mandrakes.

Themes

MatriarchsPatriarchsJacobHumorWit

Biblical References

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Legends of the JewsSarah Dressed Isaac in Her Finest Garments and Wept All NightThat feeling, that universal human experience, echoes powerfully in the story of Sarah and Isaac's parting. Sarah, having spent the entire night weeping for IsaLegends of the JewsLaban Expected Gifts Like Abraham's Servant Had BroughtIt all starts when Rachel, upon hearing that Jacob, her cousin, has arrived, races home to tell her father, Laban. Sadly, the Torah tells us that Rachel’s motheLegends of the JewsLaban in Battle of JacobJacob certainly did when dealing with Laban. Can you blame him? Laban wasn’t exactly known for his straightforward dealings. We pick up the story of Jacob from Legends of the JewsLaban Stirred Up Esau's Dormant Hatred Against JacobOur ancestor Jacob certainly did. The story Remember Laban, Jacob’s less-than-honest father-in-law? Well, his words acted like fuel on a dying fire. The LegendsPirkei DeRabbi EliezerNimrod Among the FathersOur tradition wrestles with this too, offering some pretty powerful imagery to explain it. Consider this from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating early medievMidrash TanchumaReturn Unto the Land of Thy Fathers, and to Thy KindredReturn unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred (Gen. 31:3). What is written above concerning this? Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the he-goats wh