Genesis 31:34

34 she hasted, and hid the idols under the strewings of the camel, and she sat above. (she hastened, and hid the idols in the camel-bag, and then she sat upon them.)

Genesis 31:34 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 31:34

Now Rachel had taken the images
Hearing her father inquire about them, and her husband having given leave to search for them, and to put to death whoever should be found to have them, took them from the place where she had before laid them: and put them into the camel's furniture;
perhaps the camel's furniture she rode on, and therefore it was in her tent, which some understand of the saddle on which she rode; rather, it seems to be the saddle cloth or housing, in which she might wrap the images and put them under her clothes; though some interpret it of the straw or litter of the camel, which is not so probable: and sat upon them;
the images, which, if she had the veneration for, as some suggest, she would never have used in such a manner: and Laban searched all the tent, but found [them] not;
excepting the place where Rachel sat; but Aben Ezra thinks she was not in the tent, but in some place without it, and if so, there needs no exception.

Genesis 31:34 In-Context

32 soothly that thou reprovest me of theft, at whomever thou findest thy gods, be he slain before our brethren; seek thou, (for) whatever thing of thine (that) thou findest at me, and take it away (but for thou hast accused me of theft, yea, with whomever thou findest thy gods, be he killed here before all our kinsmen; seek thou, and whatever thing of thine that thou findest with me, take it away). Jacob said these things, and knew not that Rachel had stolen the idols.
33 And so Laban entered into the tabernacle(s) of Jacob, and of Leah, and of ever either menial, and he found not; and when Laban had entered into the tent of Rachel, (And so Laban entered into the tents of Jacob, and of Leah, and of both slave-girls, but he did not find the idols; but before Laban entered into Rachel's tent,)
34 she hasted, and hid the idols under the strewings of the camel, and she sat above. (she hastened, and hid the idols in the camel-bag, and then she sat upon them.)
35 And she said to Laban, seeking (throughout) all the tent, and finding nothing, My lord, be (thou) not wroth that I may not rise (up) before thee, for it befelled now to me by the custom of women (for it hath befallen now to me by the custom of women); so the busyness of the seeker was scorned.
36 And Jacob swelled, and said with strife, For what cause of me, and for what sin of me, hast thou come so fiercely after me, (And Jacob swelled with anger, and said, What have I done, and what have I sinned, that thou shouldest come after me so fiercely,)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.