Genesis 31:35

Context

Genesis 31:35 is situated within the dramatic narrative of Jacob's clandestine departure from his father-in-law Laban's household. Jacob, after serving Laban for twenty years and feeling exploited, secretly flees with his family and possessions. Laban pursues them, finally catching up, primarily because his household gods, known as teraphim, had been stolen by Rachel, Jacob's wife. Laban confronts Jacob, accusing him of theft and demanding the return of his idols. Jacob, unaware of Rachel's actions, vehemently denies the accusation and permits Laban to search their tents. This verse describes Rachel's clever deception to prevent Laban from discovering the hidden teraphim.

Key Themes

• Deception and Cunning: Rachel employs a shrewd strategy, using a culturally accepted excuse to hide her transgression. Her actions demonstrate a willingness to deceive her own father to protect the stolen idols. This echoes a recurring theme of deception within Jacob's family.
• Idolatry and Superstition: Laban's intense pursuit and concern over the missing teraphim highlight the significant role these household gods played in ancient Near Eastern culture. They were believed to bring prosperity, protect the home, and possibly even signify inheritance rights or provide a means of divination. Rachel's act of stealing them suggests either a desire for their supposed power, a claim to family inheritance, or an attempt to prevent Laban from using them against Jacob.
• Cultural Norms of Purity: The phrase "the custom of women is upon me" refers to menstruation, which, in ancient Israelite culture (later codified in the Mosaic Law, though predating it), rendered a woman ritually unclean (see Leviticus 15:19-23). By claiming ritual impurity, Rachel not only avoids rising but also makes the saddle she is sitting on, and anything beneath it, ritually unclean, thereby deterring Laban from touching or thoroughly searching the area.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "the custom of women [is] upon me" is a polite euphemism for menstruation. In Hebrew, the phrase is 'derek nashim' (דֶּרֶךְ נָשִׁים), literally "the way of women." This was a well-understood condition that brought about a temporary state of ritual impurity, which would have been respected by Laban, preventing him from forcing her to move or from touching her or her belongings for fear of becoming defiled himself.

Practical Application

This verse offers several points for reflection:

• The Nature of Idolatry: It reminds us that idols are not just physical statues but anything we cling to or trust in more than God. Laban's distress over his teraphim reveals a misplaced faith. We are called to examine what "teraphim" might be hidden in our own lives, diverting our ultimate allegiance from the Lord.
• God's Sovereignty Amidst Human Flaws: Despite the layers of deception and human weakness evident in this family, God's overarching plan for Jacob's return to the Promised Land continues to unfold. Even through the cunning acts of individuals, divine providence guides the narrative.
• Understanding Cultural Context: The passage highlights the importance of understanding ancient cultural norms, such as ritual purity, to fully grasp the cleverness of Rachel's scheme and the dynamics of the interaction between Laban and his daughters.