The strange gods, the idols, which are so called here, and Deuteronomy 31:16, Deuteronomy 32:12 Joshua 24:20, because they were the gods of strange and foreign nations, such as all were accounted who were not Israelites. Quest. How came these to be and to continue so long in Jacob's house. Answ. Either,
1. By Rachel's means, who brought them from her father's house, which haply was not discovered till this time. Or,
2. By Leah, and by Jacob's two concubines, who might possibly bring such with them. Or,
3. By the means of Jacob's Gentile servants, who might secretly worship such gods; or having taken them from the She-chemites, they might keep them for their precious matter, as gold and silver, though not for religious use. Like a good man, and a good master of a family, he takes care not only for himself, but for all his family, to keep them from the exercise of a false religion, and to engage them as far as he can in the profession and practice of the true. Compare Genesis 18:19 Joshua 24:15. Be clean; cleanse yourselves by outward and ritual washing, as Exodus 19:10,14, which even then was in use; and especially by purging your hearts as well as hands from these idols, which I perceive, to my sorrow, some of you have still retained; and from your late detestable cruelty; that you may be fit to approach to that God who hath now summoned me and you to make a solemn appearance before him. Change your garments, either by putting on new garments, as 2 Samuel 12:20, or by washing the old ones, as Exodus 19:10 Leviticus 15:13. And these, as well as other ceremonial institutions and practices, were professions of their repentance; which consists in putting off the old man, and putting on the new, Ephesians 4:22.