t12papocrypha
Testament of Issachar 2
An angel of Jehovah reveals to Jacob the arithmetic of the births: Leah's willingness to yield Jacob's company in exchange for the mandrakes cost her two sons, reducing her count from eight to six, while Rachel's restraint and her act of bringing the mandrakes to the priest of El Elyon — offering them in His house rather than consuming them — moved Jehovah to open her womb. The chapter turns on motive: Rachel's desire was for covenant seed, not carnal pleasure, and that interior orientation, confirmed by a priestly act of consecration, is what the Lord answered.
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Then appeared to Jacob an angel of the Lord, saying, Two children shall Rachel bear; for she hath refused company with her husband, and hath chosen continency. And had not Leah my mother given up the two apples for the sake of his company, she would have borne eight sons; and for this thing she bare six, and Rachel two: because on account of the mandrakes the Lord visited her. For He knew that for the sake of children she wished to company with Jacob, and not for lust of pleasure. For she went further, and on the morrow too gave up Jacob that she might receive also the other mandrake. Therefore the Lord hearkened to Rachel because of the mandrakes: for though she desired them, she ate them not, but brought them to the priest of the Most High who was at that time, and offered them up in the house of the Lord.
