And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the two maidservants’ tents; but he found [them] not. Then went he out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent.
33. tent ] Four tents are mentioned, one occupied by Jacob, one each by Leah and Rachel, and one by handmaidens. LXX renders by = “house.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The men and womens tents were distinct and separate. See Gen 18:2; 24:67.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Laban went into Jacob’s tent,…. Into that first where he most suspected they were, being taken not out of value for them, but contempt of them;
and into Leah’s tent; and not Leah’s tent next, whom next to Jacob he might suspect of taking them, out of veneration to them, because her tent lay next:
and into the two maidservants’ tents: Bilhah and Zilpah; or “the” tent of them; for the word is singular, and perhaps they had but one tent for them both, which distinguished them from the principal wives:
but he found [them] not; in neither of these tents:
then went he out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent; which he went into last of all, as least suspecting her, being less addicted to the superstition and idolatry of his family than Leah and the maidservants: Aben Ezra thinks that he was twice in Leah’s tent, and at the last time came out of that into Rachel’s; and that Jacob’s tent lay between Leah’s and Rachel’s. From this account it more clearly appears that men and their wives had separate tents or apartments; see
Ge 24:67.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Laban looked through all the tents, but did not find his teraphim; for Rachel had put them in the saddle of her camel and was sitting upon them, and excused herself to her lord ( Adonai, Gen 31:35), on the ground that the custom of women was upon her. “ The camel’s furniture, ” i.e., the saddle (not “the camel’s litter:” Luther), here the woman’s riding saddle, which had a comfortable seat formed of carpets on the top of the packsaddle. The fact that Laban passed over Rachel’s seat because of her pretended condition, does not presuppose the Levitical law in Lev 15:19., according to which, any one who touched the couch or seat of such a woman was rendered unclean. For, in the first place, the view which lies at the foundation of this law was much older than the laws of Moses, and is met with among many other nations (cf. Bhr, Symbolik ii. 466, etc.); consequently Laban might refrain from making further examination, less from fear of defilement, than because he regarded it as impossible that any one with the custom of women upon her should sit upon his gods.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
‘And Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two maidservants, but he did not find them. And he left Leah’s tent and went into Rachel’s tent. But Rachel had taken the teraphim and put them in the camel’s furniture and sat on them. And Laban felt all about the tent and did not find them. And she said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot stand up before you, for the way of women is on me.” And he searched but did not find the teraphim.’
Laban is still convinced that it is Jacob who has stolen them. He searches all the tents thoroughly without exception. The teraphim were clearly too large to be hidden on the person, although not so large that they could not be hidden in the camel’s furniture. It is clear that Jacob watches the process in anger. He does not like all his personal belongings being searched (Gen 31:37).
Entering women’s quarters was only justified in extreme circumstances and Laban does it himself. They are members of his family. But he finds nothing. Then he enters Rachel’s quarters. That he accepts his daughter’s word suggests that he cannot bring himself to believe that his own daughters would deceive him, for had he doubted it he would have been more than suspicious. But like many arrogant people he is oblivious to how badly he has treated them and never suspects for one moment that they are resentful. We must always remember that how we treat people will at some time rebound on us.
There is possibly in the description an underlying contempt for such idols. They are hidden under a woman in her uncleanness. They are a nothing, and can do nothing.
It is interesting that only the leader and his wives have tents. The servants and their wives sleep in the open for they are on a journey. (When Jacob was travelling as a single man he also only used a stone as a pillow).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 31:33. And Laban went, &c. The LXX here add, and searched; Laban went and searched into Jacob’s tent, &c. which Dr. Kennicott defends by a reading from the Samaritan; but the matter is of no consequence, since the passage is perfectly well understood in the Hebrew without this addition; and the conciseness of the Hebrew idiom does not always admit of every explanatory word. Who does not well know, from the context, for what purpose Laban entered into Jacob’s, Leah’s, and the other tents? not to say that the words at the end of Gen 31:34 are sufficient for the whole.
REFLECTIONS.We have here,
1. Laban’s pursuit. He raises all his family, and pursues the fugitive seven days, and overtakes him at Mount Gilead. Note; When anger and covetousness are roused, what will not men do to gratify them? Even his own flesh and blood are now likely to rue his vengeance.
2. That night God stops his career, forbids him to interpose, and restrains him from offering Jacob the least injury. Note; (1.) God hath in his hands the hearts of all men. He saith to the fury of man as to the raging sea, Hitherto shalt thou come, and no further. (2.) He hath rescued, and will continue to rescue his people, when they seem upon the brink of ruin. Let us in every circumstance trust, and not be afraid. But though Laban is restrained from hurting Jacob, he is not from upbraiding him. Here is,
1. His charge against him, of great unkindness. He pretends wondrous affection to his children, nothing of which he had ever shown. Observe, When a man is disappointed of a mischievous design, he would fain have it thought he never intended it. He suggests also, as if it were a force upon his daughters, though they were first consulted. Learn, A bad heart is ingenious in inventing evil surmises. He vaunts his power to hurt him, but owns himself under a divine restraint, from God’s appearing to him the past night. Note; It were well if men attended more to the secret notices (sleeping or waking) given to their consciences from God. However, one charge at least with some colour he can maintain: his gods are stolen, and Jacob the thief. Sad gods indeed that cannot preserve themselves!
2. Jacob maintains his innocence. If he were to depart at all from Haran, he had reason from Laban’s past conduct to fear injustice. As to his gods, he denies the charge, and denounces vengeance on the thief. Had he known her, he had spoken more warily. Note; Evil wishes cannot be too sparingly dispersed; they may light on those we least suspect.
3. Laban’s search for his gods in vain. Rachel by an artifice conceals them. Note; They who steal will never want a lie or excuse.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 31:33 And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the two maidservants’ tents; but he found [them] not. Then went he out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent.
Ver. 33. And Laban went into Jacob’s tent.] Hypocrites are suspicious of others better than themselves, and impudently inquisitive: Curiosi ad cognoscendam vitam alienam, desidiosi ad corrigendam suam; as Augustine hath it. Those that are most inquisitive about other men’s manners, are most careless of their own.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gen 31:33-35
33So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two maids, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent. 34Now Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the camel’s saddle, and she sat on them. And Laban felt through all the tent but did not find them. 35She said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household idols.
Gen 31:33 “So Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent” This shows the historicity in the account that the women usually stayed in separate tents.
Gen 31:34 “the camel’s saddle” This term (BDB 468), found only here, could refer to a pouch in the saddle or a bag attached to the saddle (TEV, REB).
“And Laban felt through all the tent” This term “felt” means “to feel carefully with the hands” (BDB 606, KB 653, Piel IMPERFECT). It is usually used of blind people groping in the darkness (cf. Deu 28:29; Job 5:14; Job 12:25).
Gen 31:35 “for the manner of women is upon me” This refers to her menstrual period (BDB 202 CONSTRUCT BDB 61). It is obvious from Lev 15:19 that there were some cultural taboos connected with this. However, it is uncertain how much we can project these Levitical legislations back into the culture of Laban and Jacob, but there was some compelling reason why he did not ask Rachel to get up.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Rachel. Repeated by the Figure of speech Anadiplosis. Hebrew “tent of Rachel, and Rachel had taken. “
furniture = saddle.
searched = felt [with his hands].
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Leah’s: Gen 24:28, Gen 24:67
Reciprocal: Gen 18:9 – in