31:31,32
Jacob has no idea that Rachel is the one who has stolen Laban’s idols. Here he is acting rather timidly, saying he was afraid that Laban would keep his daughters. He also says that if any of his people are found to have the idols, then they must be put to death. Jacob has no idea the risk he is taking.
31:33-35
Laban then searches the tents, starting with Jacob and Leah, where, of course, he finds nothing. Then he goes to Rachel’s tent. Rachel pretends it is her period and cannot move from sitting on the place where the idols are hidden. So Laban failed to find anything there either. So we see more deception in the whole story, this time from Rachel.
31:36-42
Jacob does not get more assertive, not realising how close he came to real trouble. He berates Laban as he has found nothing in the tents. Then he points out to him that while Jacob himself was indeed blessed, Laban didn’t do too badly over the last twenty years. Jacob had worked hard and fairly, while Laban had changed his wages ten times. “Ten” is probably just a figure of speech rather than a precise number. The point is that Laban has not been exactly fair in his dealings with Jacob. Jacob knew that it was only because of God looking after him that he had prospered, and had been able to escape. Moreover, God had rebuked Laban.
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