Laban’s gods

Q: I was confused about the gods Rachel stole in Genesis 31. What were they and why did she want them?

A: This little detail is puzzling for many reasons. Exactly why Laban had such “gods” – and while Rachel would want to steal them – are both difficult questions, because the biblical text says so little.

Some suggestions as to what’s going on include:

1. Rachel (following Laban) was secretly an idolatress and actually looked to these little, man-made “gods” for protections
2. Perhaps there was a superstitions that possessing her father’s “gods” would put them in a superior economic situation over him.
3. The “gods” were probably made of precious metals or woods – so perhaps it was her attempt to rob her father of something valuable.

It’s hard to say anything definitive because the text provides so few details. But it’s enough to say that Rachel thought that doing this was part of her getting “revenge” on her father for treating her so poorly (cf. Genesis 31:14-16)