Testament of Issachar

Chapter 1

  1. 1 The copy of the words of Issachar. For he called his sons and said to them: Hearken, my children, to Issachar your father; Give ear to the words of him who is beloved of the Lord.
  2. 2 I was born the fifth son to Jacob, by way of hire for the mandrakes. For Reuben my brother
  3. 4 brought in mandrakes from the field, and Rachel met him and took them. And Reuben wept, and
  4. 5 at his voice Leah my mother came forth. Now these (mandrakes) were sweet-smelling apples
  5. 6 which were produced in the land of Haran below a ravine of water. And Rachel said: I will not give them to thee, but they shall be to me instead of children. For the Lord hath despised me,
  6. 7 and I have not borne children to Jacob. Now there were two apples; and Leah said to Rachel:
  7. 8 Let it suffice thee that thou hast taken my husband: wilt thou take these also? And Rachel said
  8. 9 to her: Thou shalt have Jacob this night for the mandrakes of thy son. And Leah said to her:
  9. 10 Jacob is mine, for I am the wife of his youth. But Rachel said: Boast not, and vaunt not thyself; for he espoused me before thee, and for my sake he served our father fourteen years.
  10. 11 And had not craft increased on the earth and the wickedness of men prospered, thou wouldst not now see the face of Jacob.