Read Genesis 31 at Bible Gateway.
In this chapter there is a curious mention of Laban’s household gods, which Rachel stole. The Hebrew word for “houshold gods” is teraphim.
From Smith’s Bible Dictionary:
This word occurs only in the plural, and denotes images connected with magical rites. The derivation of the name is obscure. In one case— (1 Sam 19:13,16)—a single statue seems to be intended by the plural. The teraphim, translated “images” in the Authorized Version, carried away from Laban by Rachel were regarded by Laban as gods, and it would therefore appear that they were used by those who added corrupt practices to the patriarchal religion. Teraphim again are included among Micah’s images. (Jud 17:3-5; 18:17,18,20) Teraphim were consulted for oracular answers by the Israelites, (Zec 10:2) comp. Jud 18:5,6; 1 Sam 15:22,23; 19:13,16, LXX., and 2 Kin 23:24; and by the Babylonians in the case of Nebuchadnezzar. (Eze 21:19-22).
From The Jewish Encyclopedia:
“ … the most important function of the teraphim … was that of divination. Evidently the images were used chiefly for oracular purposes, although nothing is known of the method of their consultation …”
Smith’s implies that Rachel took them to add them to her family’s worship of YHVH. However, I don’t believe that was her motive. They were fleeing from Laban, who used the household gods to divine; that is, according to Wesbster’s, “to seek to predict future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers; to practice divination.” Rachel wanted to keep their journey and destination from her father, who, she believed, would use the teraphim to try to discover details about their escape.
Why This Matters: A popular criticism based on this chapter is that the Bible can’t be much of a holy book if Rachel skates with theft and idolatry. Understanding the Context of biblical passages, however, short circuits lazy Bible critics who like to charge God with wrongdoing, or the biblical text that we have with contradictions and errors.
This incident details Rachel’s theft with zero extra details or cultural hand-holding—just the facts, exactly as someone writing from that time and place would record it. They wouldn’t add definitions of teraphim or its use in culture because hello, common knowledge. Someone writing centuries later, however, would include those details, if we’re looking at it logically.
The Hebrew paragraph for this chapter:
28:10-32:2 {p} …
If there are questions, these are good resources. Reading all three will give a clearer insight into the teraphim custom of the ancient Near East, although I believe the few mentions of teraphim as a positive addition to “the cult of YHVH” is complete nonsense.
What are Teraphim? – Got Questions
Teraphim – Jewish Virtual Library
Teraphim – The Jewish Encyclopedia
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