Kejadian 31:19

31:19 While Laban had gone to shear his sheep, ¹  Rachel stole the household idols ²  that belonged to her father.

Kejadian 38:12-13

38:12 After some time ³  Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. After Judah was consoled, he left for Timnah to visit his sheepshearers, along with ⁴  his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 38:13 Tamar was told, ⁵  “Look, your father-in-law is going up ⁶  to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

[31:19]  ¹ tn This disjunctive clause (note the pattern conjunction + subject + verb) introduces a new scene. In the English translation it may be subordinated to the following clause.

[31:19]  ² tn Or “household gods.” Some translations merely transliterate the Hebrew term תְּרָפִים (tÿrafim) as “teraphim,” which apparently refers to household idols. Some contend that possession of these idols guaranteed the right of inheritance, but it is more likely that they were viewed simply as protective deities. See M. Greenberg, “Another Look at Rachel’s Theft of the Teraphim,” JBL 81 (1962): 239-48.

[38:12]  ³ sn After some time. There is not enough information in the narrative to know how long this was. The text says “the days increased.” It was long enough for Shelah to mature and for Tamar to realize she would not have him.

[38:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “and he went up to the shearers of his sheep, he and.”

[38:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “And it was told to Tamar, saying.”

[38:13]  ⁶ tn The active participle indicates the action was in progress or about to begin.