Ask the Pastor: Reuben's mandrakes in Genesis 30

• What is going on with Reuben's mandrakes in Genesis 30:14?

Boova brings his Genesis 30:14 question: Reuben brings mandrakes to Leah, Rachel trades a night with Jacob for them, and the hosts laugh through the "love apples" aphrodisiac research. They conclude the mandrakes are a narrative device — the point is God's faithfulness to Leah and Rachel, not the fruit — and note the story's focus is God blessing the women, with Jacob traded around like "a dude of the night."