Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel’s saddle; Now is again Revised Standard Version‘s treatment of the connective as a transition to a new development. Note Good News Translation. Taken … and put translates the Hebrew form, which may often be rendered by a single verb. Camel’s saddle refers to what BDB calls a “camel-basket.” This is not the saddle itself but rather a basket that is attached to the saddle for carrying goods. Good News Translation translates “saddlebag,” Revised English Bible “camel-bag,” New Jerusalem Bible “camel cushion.” The term used in translation should refer to an object that is small enough to be concealed by Rachel’s skirts while seated.

And sat upon them suggests that her clothing, particularly a long and wide skirt, would hide the images that were inside the saddlebag or cushion she was sitting on.

Laban felt all about the tent, but did not find them: while Rachel is sitting on the idols, Laban is poking his hands into the baggage in the tent. Felt all about the tent means he searched the whole tent, feeling everything with his hands.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .