The Family of Abraham: Part 20—Mandrakes and Poplar Rods
April 4, 2019
Alastair Roberts
Today, I discuss a couple of the strangest episodes in the story of Genesis: Rachel's request for some of Leah's mandrakes and Jacob's taking of Laban's flocks using—among other things—poplar rods.
Within this episode, I mention this video by Rabbi David Fohrman on Rachel's reward: https://www.alephbeta.org/playlist/how-do-we-mourn-on-tisha-bav. I also recommend this article by Scott Noegel: http://faculty.washington.edu/snoegel/PDFs/articles/Noegel%2020%20-%20JANES%201997.pdf.
My blog for my podcasts and videos is found here: https://adversariapodcast.com/. You can see transcripts of my videos here: https://adversariapodcast.com/list-of-videos-and-podcasts/.
If you have any questions, you can leave them on my Curious Cat account: https://curiouscat.me/zugzwanged.
If you have enjoyed these talks, please tell your friends and consider supporting me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/zugzwanged. You can also support me using my PayPal account: https://bit.ly/2RLaUcB.
The audio of all of my videos is available on my Soundcloud account: https://soundcloud.com/alastairadversaria. You can also listen to the audio of these episodes on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/alastairs-adversaria/id1416351035?mt=2.
More From Alastair Roberts
Q&A#123 Sex Recession?
Alastair Roberts
April 5, 2019
Today's question: "Any thoughts on the recent research on decreased rates of sex among under 30s, especially men? I would particularly be interested i
Q&A#124 What Does Worldview Thinking Miss?
Alastair Roberts
April 6, 2019
Today's question: "You've criticized 'worldview' approaches on a number of occasions. What are some of the things that you think they are missing?"
S
Q&A#125 Contrasting Complementarian Approaches to Headship
Alastair Roberts
April 7, 2019
Today's question: "Could you comment a little on practical differences among complementarians on the notion of headship?"
Within this episode, I refe
The Family of Abraham: Part 19—Rachel and Leah
Alastair Roberts
April 3, 2019
Jacob encounters Rachel at the well and marries Rachel and Leah.
My blog for my podcasts and videos is found here: https://adversariapodcast.com/. Yo
The Family of Abraham: Part 18—Jacob's Ladder
Alastair Roberts
April 2, 2019
I comment on Genesis 28 and Jacob's Ladder.
Within my discussion, I mention Matthieu Pageau's book, The Language of Creation: https://amzn.to/2VdAFE4
The Family of Abraham: Part 17—The Deception of Isaac
Alastair Roberts
April 1, 2019
I discuss Genesis 27, where Isaac is deceived and Esau loses the blessing to Jacob.
My blog for my podcasts and videos is found here: https://adversa
More on OpenTheo
Why Should We Pray If God Already Knows What’s Going to Happen?
#STRask
January 29, 2026
Questions about why we should pray if God already knows what’s going to happen, how the effectiveness of prayer is measured, and whether or not things
What Do You Think About Churches Advertising on Social Media?
#STRask
January 19, 2026
Questions about whether there’s an issue with churches advertising on social media, whether it’s weird if we pray along with a YouTuber, and whether C
Can You Recommend Good Books with More In-Depth Information and Ideas?
#STRask
January 22, 2026
Questions about good books on Christian apologetics, philosophy, and theology with more in-depth information and ideas, and resources to help an intel
Can Two Logical People Come to Conflicting Conclusions Without Committing a Fallacy?
#STRask
January 8, 2026
Questions about whether two logical people can come to conflicting conclusions on a topic without committing a fallacy, how Greg, as a public figure,
Who Wrote the Gospels? Michael Licona vs. Bart Ehrman - Part 2
Risen Jesus
March 18, 2026
Did Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John write the gospels that bear their names? The texts themselves do not name them as the authors and were published and
How Can We Know Who Is Teaching the Same Gospel Paul Taught?
#STRask
February 16, 2026
Questions about how we can know who is teaching the same gospel Paul taught, and whether or not Jeremiah 1:5 supports the idea that we pre-existed in
Protestants and Catholics: What’s the Difference? With Chad Van Dixhoorn, Blair Smith, and Mark McDowell
Life and Books and Everything
November 26, 2025
How should Protestants think about the Catholic Mass? About the Eucharist? About the history and development of the papacy? In this panel discussion,
Does God Hear the Prayers of Non-Believers?
#STRask
February 26, 2026
Questions about whether or not God hears and answers the prayers of non-believers, and thoughts about a church sign that reads (as if from God), “Just
Lora Ries: Border Security and Immigration Policy
Knight & Rose Show
December 7, 2025
Wintery Knight and Desert Rose welcome Lora Ries to discuss border security and immigration policy. They explore Biden's policy changes, like ending R
Are Demon Possessions and Exorcisms in the New Testament Literal?
#STRask
December 11, 2025
Questions about whether references to demon possessions and exorcisms in the New Testament are literal, how to talk to young children about ghosts, an
Isn’t the Covenant in Scripture Explicitly with Israel and Not the Gentile Nations?
#STRask
March 12, 2026
Questions about what gives modern Christians confidence that they’ve inherited the Jews’ covenant with God if Scripture explicitly says it was with Is
How Can I Explain Modesty to My Daughter?
#STRask
November 27, 2025
Questions about how to explain modesty to a nine-year-old in a way that won’t cause shame about her body, and when and how to tell a child about a pre
Did Jesus Prove He Wasn’t Sinless When He Overturned the Tables?
#STRask
December 29, 2025
Questions about whether Jesus proved he wasn’t sinless when he overturned the tables, whether Jesus’ response to the Pharisees in Mark 3:22–26 was a b
Does God Really Need a “Pound of Flesh” to Forgive Sins?
#STRask
January 12, 2026
Questions about how to answer the challenge that God doesn’t need a “pound of flesh” to forgive sins but can simply forgive, and whether the claim in
Shouldn’t I Be Praying for My Soul Rather Than for Material Things?
#STRask
February 2, 2026
Questions about whether we should be praying for our souls rather than for material things, why we need to pray about decisions, whether the devil can