14 Now in the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” 15 But she said to her, “Is it a small matter for you to take my husband? And would you take my son’s mandrakes also?” So Rachel said, “Therefore he may lie with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.” 16 When Jacob came in from the field in the evening, then Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he lay with her that night. 17 God gave heed to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. 18 Then Leah said, “God has given me my wages because I gave my maid to my husband.” So she named him Issachar. 19 Leah conceived again and bore a sixth son to Jacob. 20 Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good gift; now my husband will dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun. 21 Afterward she bore a daughter and named her Dinah.
22 Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb. 23 So she conceived and bore a son and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” 24 She named him Joseph, saying, “May the LORD give me another son.”
By this time, Rachel was desperate to bear children for Jacob. Leah’s son finds mandrakes in the field, and Rachel sees her chance. Mandrakes were believed to help a woman conceive in those days. Leah naturally objects, as she has been barren for a while also, so Rachel makes a deal. The result is that Leah bears three more children, and Rachel none. It is believed that verse 22 comes much later, and it is only when God intervenes that Rachel finally bears a son, Joseph. God’s timing was perfect, and He knew events that were to come, and Joseph would be a key player in those events. Don’t get weary in waiting on God, He will come through when the timing is right.