Genesis 31 · a question people ask
Why did Rachel steal her father's teraphim?
Genesis doesn't say. It records that she stole them (31:19), hid them by sitting on them (31:34-35), and that Laban called them "my gods" (31:30). Brown-Driver-Briggs describes teraphim as "a kind of idol, obj. of reverence, and means of divination". Later Jacob tells his household, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you", and hides them "under the oak which was by Shechem" (35:2-4).
The verses
“Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep; and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father’s.”
“Now, you want to be gone, because you greatly longed for your father’s house, but why have you stolen my gods?””
“Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt around all the tent, but didn’t find them. She said to her father, “Don’t let my lord be angry that I can’t rise up before you; for I’m having my period.” He searched, but didn’t find the teraphim.”
“Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. Let’s arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went.” They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.”