Genesis 31:34 - Exposition

Now Rachel had taken the images ( teraphim ), and put them in the camel's furniture, —the camel's furniture was not stramenta cameli (Vulgate), "the camel's straw" (Luther), but the camel's saddle ( LXX ; Onkelos, Syriac, Calvin, Rosenmüller, Keil, and others), here called כּר , from כָּרַר , an unused root signifying either to go round in a circle, hence to run (Gesenius), or to be firmly wound together, hence to be puffed up as a bolster (Furst). The woman's riding-saddle was commonly made of wicker-work and had the appearance of a basket or cradle. It was usually covered with carpet, and protected against wind, rain, and sun by means of a canopy and curtains, while light was admitted by openings in the side (cf. Gesenius, sub voce; Kalisch in loco ). "That which is now customary among the Arabs consists of a large closed basket-work, with a place for sitting and reclining, and a window at the side; one of this kind hangs on each side of the camel" (Gerlach)— and sat upon them. "To us the picture of Rachel seated upon the camel furniture is true to life, for we have often seen its counterpart. The saddle-bags and cushions which were to be set upon the camel lay piled on the floor, while she sat upon them. And Laban searched— the word means to feel out or explore with the hands (cf. Genesis 27:12 ; Job 12:25 )— all the tent, but found them not.