027: Sister Wives

In Genesis 30, the rivalry between sister wives Leah and Rachel intensifies. Rachel, envious that her sister has bore Jacob four sons while she remains barren, gives her handmaiden to Jacob, who bears two sons. Leah then gives her handmaiden to Jacob who bears two more sons. In a desperate attempt to have children, Rachel allows Leah to sleep with Jacob in exchange for some mandrakes, which were believed to have fertility properties, but Leah bears two more sons instead. Jacob and Laban continued to try to outwit each other. Laban changed Jacob’s wages ten times, but Jacob used his knowledge of animal husbandry to outsmart Laban and increase his own wealth.