Issachar

14During the wheat harvest, Reuben went out. He found some mandrake plants in a field. He brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."

And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son’s mandrakes.

NoteMandrakes are plants with a strong smell and small yellow fruit. Back then people believed they helped a woman have a baby. Wheat harvest is early summer, when people cut the ripe wheat.

15Leah said to her, "Is it a small thing that you took my husband? Now will you take my son's mandrakes too?" Rachel said, "Then Jacob may sleep with you tonight for your son's mandrakes."

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.

16That evening Jacob came in from the field. Leah went out to meet him. She said, "You must come to me. I have paid for you with my son's mandrakes." So he slept with her that night.

And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son’s mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.

17God listened to Leah. She was going to have a baby, and she had a fifth son for Jacob.

And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.

18Leah said, "God has paid me, because I gave my servant to my husband." She named him Issachar.

And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

Note"Issachar" sounds like the Hebrew word for pay or reward.

14"Issachar is a strong donkey. He lies down between two heavy loads."

Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:

NoteDonkeys carried heavy bags on their backs. Issachar's family would work hard like that.

15"He saw that rest was good. He saw that the land was pleasant. He bent his shoulder to carry the load. He became a servant who must work for others."

And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.

NoteThis kind of work was work he could not say no to. Stronger people made him work for them.

18About Zebulun he said: "Be glad, Zebulun, when you travel out. Be glad, Issachar, at home in your tents."

And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.

NoteZebulun and Issachar were two more sons of Jacob. Zebulun's people traveled and traded far away. Issachar's people stayed home and farmed.

19"They will call the peoples to the mountain. There they will give the right offerings. They will grow rich from the sea and from treasure hidden in the sand."

They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.

NoteAn offering is a gift given to God. Treasure hidden in the sand may mean shells and sand from the beach. People made purple dye and glass from them.