Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/279

Rh 261

Jacob and Laban V.

The

19.

tcraphiin

were the

faniil-

or household gods

repre-

These Laban were small enough to be put in the pack-saddle of a camel, upon which Rachel sat, while I Samuel XIX, 13 speaks of such an image in the house of David, which was approximately of human In ancient Israel the use of these teraphim seems to size and shape. have been common, and not at all inconsistent with the pure worship sented in the form of idols.

They varied considerahly

in size.

of

Teraphim God; cf. Judges XVII; XVIII, 14. 17, 18, 20; I Samuel Hosea III, 4. The teraphim were apparently employed particthe practice of divination; cf. Ezekiel XXI, 26; Zechariah X,

of Israel's

XIX,

13;

ularly in 2.

Accordingly the rabbis sought to excuse Rachel's

theft,

by saying

that she took the teraphim because she feared that they might dis-

Actually the story gives no close Jacob's whereabouts to Laban. motive for Rachel's theft, unless it be that suggested in the lesson, For to prove tlie superiority of Jacob's God over the gods of Laban. \n