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Genesis 31:34 - Rachel hides idolatrous terafim

Genesis 31:34 - בראשית 31:34

Hebrew Text

וְרָחֵל לָקְחָה אֶת־הַתְּרָפִים וַתְּשִׂמֵם בְּכַר הַגָּמָל וַתֵּשֶׁב עֲלֵיהֶם וַיְמַשֵּׁשׁ לָבָן אֶת־כָּל־הָאֹהֶל וְלֹא מָצָא׃

English Translation

Now Raĥel had taken the images, and put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat upon them. And Lavan searched all the tent, but found them not.

Transliteration

Ve'Rachel lakcha et-haterafim vat'simem be'char hagamal vateshev alehem vay'masheh Lavan et-kol-ha'ohel velo matza.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְרָחֵ֞ל לָקְחָ֣ה אֶת־הַתְּרָפִ֗ים וַתְּשִׂמֵ֛ם בְּכַ֥ר הַגָּמָ֖ל וַתֵּ֣שֶׁב עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וַיְמַשֵּׁ֥שׁ לָבָ֛ן אֶת־כׇּל־הָאֹ֖הֶל וְלֹ֥א מָצָֽא׃
וְרָחֵ֞ל לָקְחָ֣ה אֶת־הַתְּרָפִ֗ים וַתְּשִׂמֵ֛ם בְּכַ֥ר הַגָּמָ֖ל וַתֵּ֣שֶׁב עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וַיְמַשֵּׁ֥שׁ לָבָ֛ן אֶת־כׇּל־הָאֹ֖הֶל וְלֹ֥א מָצָֽא׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Rachel's Theft of the Terafim

The verse describes Rachel taking her father Lavan's terafim (household idols) and hiding them in the saddle of her camel, sitting upon them to conceal them from Lavan's search. This act raises several questions in traditional Jewish commentary:

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Bereshit 31:19) explains that Rachel took the terafim to prevent her father from idol worship. He further notes (based on Bereshit Rabbah 74:5) that Lavan used these idols for divination, and Rachel sought to remove this source of spiritual corruption from her father's life.

Midrashic Insights

  • Bereshit Rabbah 74:5 suggests the terafim could speak, and Rachel feared they would reveal Yaakov's escape to Lavan.
  • Some commentaries suggest these were ancestral images used in inheritance claims, which Rachel took to prevent Lavan from claiming ownership over her and Yaakov's family.

Rachel's Seating Position

The Talmud (Sanhedrin 93a) notes that Rachel sat on the idols while in a state of niddah (menstrual impurity), knowing Lavan would not approach her in this condition. This demonstrates her wisdom in protecting Yaakov's escape.

Halachic Considerations

The Rambam (Hilchot Avodah Zarah 7:2) cites this incident when discussing the mitzvah to destroy idols, noting that even though stealing is generally prohibited, taking idols to destroy them is meritorious.

Moral Implications

Commentaries debate whether Rachel's deception was justified. The Kli Yakar argues it was permitted as mutar l'shaneh mipnei hashalom (allowed to alter the truth for peace), while others suggest she was later punished through premature death (Rashi on Bereshit 48:7) for causing her father distress.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Avodah Zarah 44a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the nature of idolatry and the actions of Rachel in taking the teraphim (household idols).
📖 Sanhedrin 93b
The verse is mentioned in the context of discussing the character and actions of Rachel, particularly her cunning in hiding the teraphim from Laban.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Rachel take the teraphim (idols)?
A: According to Rashi and the Midrash (Genesis Rabbah 74:5), Rachel took the teraphim to prevent her father Lavan from idol worship. Some commentaries suggest she may have also wanted to distance her father from false beliefs or to protect Yaakov from Lavan's accusations of theft.
Q: Why did Rachel sit on the teraphim?
A: Rachel sat on the teraphim to hide them from her father Lavan when he searched the tent (Rashi on Genesis 31:34). Since it was improper for Lavan to search where his daughter was sitting due to modesty (tzniut), he did not find them.
Q: What were the teraphim?
A: The teraphim were household idols used for divination or worship, common in ancient cultures. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 102b) and Rambam (Hilchot Avodah Zarah) explain that they were associated with idolatry, which the Torah strictly forbids.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Rachel's actions?
A: The Midrash (Genesis Rabbah 74:5) teaches that Rachel acted out of concern for her father’s spiritual well-being, showing that even difficult actions can be motivated by a desire to prevent sin. However, Jewish tradition emphasizes that we must always act within halachic (Torah law) boundaries.
Q: Why didn't Lavan find the teraphim?
A: Lavan did not find the teraphim because Rachel concealed them under her seat, and out of respect for modesty, he could not search there (Rashi on Genesis 31:34). This shows how Hashem sometimes protects people in unexpected ways.