Genesis 31:19

31:19 While Laban had gone to shear his sheep, ¹  Rachel stole the household idols ²  that belonged to her father.

Genesis 31:23

31:23 So he took his relatives ³  with him and pursued Jacob ⁴  for seven days. ⁵  He caught up with ⁶  him in the hill country of Gilead.

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¹ tn This disjunctive clause (note the pattern conjunction + subject + verb) introduces a new scene. In the English translation it may be subordinated to the following clause.

² tn Or “household gods.” Some translations merely transliterate the Hebrew term תְּרָפִים (tÿrafim) as “teraphim,” which apparently refers to household idols. Some contend that possession of these idols guaranteed the right of inheritance, but it is more likely that they were viewed simply as protective deities. See M. Greenberg, “Another Look at Rachel’s Theft of the Teraphim,” JBL 81 (1962): 239-48.

³ tn Heb “his brothers.”

⁴ tn Heb “him”; the referent (Jacob) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵ tn Heb “and he pursued after him a journey of seven days.”

⁶ tn Heb “drew close to.”