cir. 1748 Mandrakes: the word is only found here and Song of Solomon 7:13, whence it appears that it is a plant or fruit of pleasant smell, such as the mandrake is said to be by Dioscorides and Levinus Lemnius, and by St. Austin upon his own experience. If it be said this was too early for mandrakes to be ripe, it being now but wheat-harvest; it may be replied, that fruits ripen much sooner in those hot countries than elsewhere, and that they are not here said to be ripe, but only to be gathered. Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes; which she might desire, either because they were pleasant to the eye or taste, or because they were thought helpful to conception.
Related Commentaries of Genesis 30:14
Genesis 30:14
14 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.