Genesis 31:19

“And Laban went to shear his sheep, etc.] Which were under the care of his sons, and were three days’ distance from Jacob’s flocks; this gave Jacob a fair opportunity to depart with his family and substance, since Laban and his sons were at such a distance, and their servants with them also: and Rachel had stolen the images that [were] her father’s; afterwards called gods, which he made use of in an idolatrous and superstitious manner, one way or other: they seem to be a kind of “penates”, or household gods; in the Hebrew they are called “teraphim”; and which De Dieu thinks were the same with “seraphim” f1511; and were images of angels, consulted on occasion, and placed in the house for the…”

“31:19-20 Rachel stole her father’s household idols: Rachel probably wanted to regain some of the assets Laban had squandered; possibly she also worshiped idols (cp. 35:2-4). To have the idols may have signified claiming the family inheritance, as customs in subsequent periods indicate. Laban apparently felt vulnerable without them. Whatever her reasons, Rachel’s theft almost brought disaster on the fleeing family when Laban caught up with them. • A wordplay shows that Rachel and Jacob were very much alike—Rachel stole (Hebrew wattignob) Laban’s household gods, and Jacob outwitted (Hebrew wayyignob, “stole the heart of, deceived”) Laban.”