And she said unto her, [Is it] a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee tonight for thy son’s mandrakes.
Verse 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Jacob either did equally divide the times between his two wives; or rather, had more estranged himself from Leah, and cohabited principally with Rachel, which occasioned the foregoing expostulation.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
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 son’s mandrakes also? which were poor things to be mentioned along with an husband; and besides, Rachel did not offer to take them away from the child without her leave, which she in very humble manner asked of her:
and Rachel said, therefore he shall lie with thee tonight for thy son’s mandrakes; which showed no great affection to her husband, and a slight of his company, to be willing to part with it for such a trifle; and it seems by this as if they took their turns to lie with Jacob, and this night being Rachel’s turn, she agrees to give it to Leah for the sake of the mandrakes: or however, if she had engrossed him to herself very much of late, as seems by the words of Leah above, she was willing to give him up to her this night, on that consideration; which Leah agreed she should have, as appears by what follows.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
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 polygamy might be exhibited to posterity. And it is not to be doubted that this domestic private quarrel, yea, hostile dissension, brought great grief and torment to the holy man. But the reason why he found himself thus distracted by opposite parties was, that against all right, he had broken the unity of the conjugal bond.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
‘And she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? And would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?” And Rachel said, “He will therefore lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes.”
Leah feels cast aside. Perhaps Jacob has decided she is beyond bearing. Certainly he seemingly refuses to sleep with her, preferring Rachel. So Rachel, aware of her power over him enters into a contract that if she receives the mandrakes Leah can sleep with Jacob that night. Indeed the next verse suggests that the contract may well have been in accordance with tribal custom between two wives.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 30:15. That thou hast taken, &c. From Leah’s expression, thou hast taken away my husband, it rather seems as if Rachel had so engrossed all Jacob’s affection, as to have withdrawn him entirely from Leah, who therefore, solicitous for more children, was the rather anxious for his company. I cannot think, says Bishop Patrick, of any good reason, either for this contention between Jacob’s wives for his company, or their giving him their maid-servants to be his wives; or for Moses’s taking such particular notice of all this; but only the earnest desire they had to fulfil the promise made to Abraham, that his seed should be as the stars of heaven for multitude; and that in one Seed of his (the Messiah) all the nations of the earth should be blessed. It had been below the dignity of such a sacred history as this is, to relate such things, if there had not been something of great consideration in them. And what can that be, but chiefly the birth of the blessed Seed, which was the object of the hopes of the pious in those days? For it is evident, in respect to both Rachel and her sister, that it was children they desired: as it follows, Gen 30:17.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
It is proper to observe, that this earnestness for children, arose from the hope that the Messiah, the promised seed, might be of the number. And it is the same idea which operates in the present day among the Jews, who rejoice in the birth of a son, but are much disappointed in the birth of a daughter.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 30:15 And she said unto her, [Is it] a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son’s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son’s mandrakes.
Ver. 15. Therefore he shall lie with thee, &c. ] Thus he is bought and sold by his emulous wives: which was no small affliction to him, and a punishment of his polygamy.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 16:9, Num 16:10, Num 16:13, Isa 7:13, Eze 16:47, 1Co 4:3
Reciprocal: Gen 30:20 – now will Lev 18:18 – to vex her 1Ki 16:31 – as if it had been a light thing Eze 34:18 – a small