What does Genesis 31:34 mean?
Laban is searching, tent by tent, for his stolen house idols. He is convinced Jacob has stolen them, since they went missing when Jacob fled. And, Laban is right, in the sense that they were stolen by someone in Jacob's camp (Genesis 31:19). However, Jacob knows he did not take them, does not know anyone in his family to have them, and is convinced nobody in his company has them. Unfortunately, Jacob is wrong. His wife Rachel has stolen them, and now faces a death sentence if they are found during a search (Genesis 31:32).Laban has searched the other tents and now arrives at Rachel's. She has hidden them in a camel saddle in her tent and is sitting on the saddle as her father searches. Laban is thorough. He doesn't just look around; Laban sticks his hands on and under things, feeling around to see if the idols have been stashed somewhere tricky. Does he suspect that Rachel may have taken them, after all?