Teraphim

Teraphim were small household gods or idols mentioned in several passages throughout the Old Testament. They were often associated with pagan religious practices and were used for divination and worship. In Genesis 31, Rachel stole her father Laban's teraphim when she and her husband Israel (or 'Jacob') fled from Laban's household. This incident suggests that the possession of teraphim was considered valuable and that they may have been used for inheritance rights or protection. <BR>In Judges 17-18, a man named Micah created a shrine with an ephod and teraphim, which were later stolen by the Danites and used in their own idolatrous worship. This story highlights the widespread use of teraphim and their association with syncretistic religious practices. <BR>The prophet Hosea mentions teraphim in the context of Israel's future restoration, stating that the Israelites will be without king, prince, sacrifice, pillar, ephod, or teraphim (Hosea 3:4). This suggests that the use of teraphim was common during times of spiritual decline and that their absence would be a sign of Israel's return to true worship. <BR>Other passages, such as 2Ki.23.24 and Ezk.21.21, condemn the use of teraphim as part of pagan practices that were to be eliminated from Israelite society. The Bible consistently portrays the use of teraphim as a form of idolatry and a violation of the commandment to worship only the one true God.