OpenTheo

The Family of Abraham: Part 20—Mandrakes and Poplar Rods

Alastair Roberts

The Family of Abraham: Part 20—Mandrakes and Poplar Rods

April 4, 2019
Alastair Roberts
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.

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditCopy Link

Transcript

More on OpenTheo

On Tyndale House, the Old Testament, and the Promises and Pitfalls of Biblical Scholarship with Peter Williams and Will Ross
On Tyndale House, the Old Testament, and the Promises and Pitfalls of Biblical Scholarship with Peter Williams and Will Ross
Life and Books and Everything
March 6, 2025
Recently, Peter Williams, Principal at Tyndale House in Cambridge, preached at Christ Covenant Church for its missions week. At the end of the evening
Does “Repent from Your Sin and Believe” Describe a Works Salvation?
Does “Repent from Your Sin and Believe” Describe a Works Salvation?
#STRask
March 6, 2025
Questions about whether “repent from your sin and believe” describes a works salvation and Greg’s stance on the idea of “easy beliefism”—i.e., the ide
Natasha Crain: When Culture Hates You
Natasha Crain: When Culture Hates You
Knight & Rose Show
March 1, 2025
Wintery Knight and Desert Rose welcome Natasha Crain to discuss her new book "When Culture Hates You". We discuss the shift from a culturally accepted
Can a Christian Pretend to Denounce His Faith to Save His Life?
Can a Christian Pretend to Denounce His Faith to Save His Life?
#STRask
January 30, 2025
Questions about whether pretending to denounce your faith to save your life will cause you to lose your salvation, whether lying to save others’ lives
You Shall Call His Name Joshua
You Shall Call His Name Joshua
Alastair Roberts
December 26, 2024
The following was first published on the Theopolis website: https://theopolisinstitute.com/you-shall-call-his-name-joshua/. Follow my Substack, the A
Did God Create Other Human Beings Not Described in Genesis 1–2?
Did God Create Other Human Beings Not Described in Genesis 1–2?
#STRask
January 23, 2025
Questions about whether God created other human beings not described in Genesis 1–2, whether the children of Adam and Eve had to commit incest, and wh
Would the Disciples Die for a Lie If They Believed It Was for the Greater Good?
Would the Disciples Die for a Lie If They Believed It Was for the Greater Good?
#STRask
January 13, 2025
Questions about whether the disciples would die for a lie if they believed it was for the greater good, how to start a conversation with an Uber custo
Book Review 2024
Book Review 2024
For The King
January 2, 2025
Best Fiction: Illiad/Odyssey by Homer Phantastes/Lilith by George MacDonald Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Best Nonfiction: The Consolation of P
What Tactical Approach Should I Take with Someone Who Says the Trinity Isn’t Biblical?
What Tactical Approach Should I Take with Someone Who Says the Trinity Isn’t Biblical?
#STRask
January 20, 2025
Questions about a good approach to take with someone who says the Trinity isn’t biblical, how to respond to Jehovah’s Witnesses who say Jesus received
Jesus' Bodily Resurrection - A Legendary Development Based on Hallucinations - Licona vs. Carrier - Part 2
Jesus' Bodily Resurrection - A Legendary Development Based on Hallucinations - Licona vs. Carrier - Part 2
Risen Jesus
March 12, 2025
In this episode, a 2004 debate between Mike Licona and Richard Carrier, Licona presents a case for the resurrection of Jesus based on three facts that
How Could God Be Perfect If He Regrets Something He Did?
How Could God Be Perfect If He Regrets Something He Did?
#STRask
February 24, 2025
Questions about how God could be perfect if he regrets something he did, whether there’s a difference between God’s sovereignty and God’s providence,
What Is the Definition of Inerrancy?
What Is the Definition of Inerrancy?
#STRask
February 17, 2025
Questions about the definition of inerrancy, whether or not Mark and Luke were associates of Jesus, and whether or not Mark and Luke wrote Mark and Lu
Günter Bechly: Explosions in the Fossil Record
Günter Bechly: Explosions in the Fossil Record
Knight & Rose Show
January 7, 2025
Wintery Knight and Desert Rose welcome paleontologist Dr. Günter Bechly to discuss the fossil record. Günter explains why the fossil evidence is more
Who Made You the Experts on What Makes Someone a Christian?
Who Made You the Experts on What Makes Someone a Christian?
#STRask
January 27, 2025
Questions about whether Greg and Amy are illegitimately claiming they’re the experts on what makes someone a Christian and a tactic to use with someon
Is It a Sin to Remove Someone from Life Support?
Is It a Sin to Remove Someone from Life Support?
#STRask
February 3, 2025
Questions about whether it’s a sin to remove someone from life support, whether it would be morally wrong to attend a legal assisted suicide of an unb