Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 31:19

19 And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stollen the images that were her fathers .

Quest. 1. What were those Teraphims or images? Ans. They were images made in the shape of men, 1 Sam. 19. 13, 16. which the Gentiles worshipped as subordinate Gods, ver. 30, 32. of this chapter, to which they committed the protection of their Families, 1 Sam. 19. 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. which they used to consult about-secret or future things, and from which they received answers about them, Ezek. 21. 21. Zech. 10. 2. Of these see more Iudg. 17. 5. and 18. 14, 17. &c. Ho[illegible: 1+ letters]. 3. 4. And these Idols Laban worshipped together with the true God. Quest. 2. Why did Rachel steal them? Ans. Partly lest her father by consulting them should discover their flight and the course which they took; and partly because she seemed yet to retain a superstitious conceit of them, as may be gathered from Gen. 35. 2. Others, because they were pretty and precious things, made of Silver and Gold, which she took as a part of what was due to her both as his daughter and for her Husbands service. Others, that she might remove so great an occasion of her Fathers Idolatry, and shew him the vanity of such Gods as might be stoln away.

Marginal references: Heb. Teraphim.