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19 Now while Laban (white) was out shearing his sheep, Rachel (little lamb) stole her father’s household idols. 20 Moreover, Jacob (he grasps the heel) deceived (stole the heart of) Laban (white) the Aramean (exalted) by not telling him that he was running away. 21 So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates \the River/, and headed for the hill country of Gilead (rocky region). 22 On the third day Laban (white) was informed that Jacob (he grasps the heel) had fled. 23 So he took his relatives with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him in the hill country of Gilead (rocky region). 24 But that night God {Elohim} came to Laban (white) the Aramean (exalted) in a dream and warned him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob (he grasps the heel), either good or bad.” 25 Now Jacob (he grasps the heel) had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead (rocky region) when Laban (white) overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there as well. 26 Then Laban (white) said to Jacob (he grasps the heel), “What have you done? You have deceived me and carried off my daughters like captives of war! 27 Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps. 28 But you did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. Now you have done a foolish thing. 29 I have power to do you⁺ great harm, but last night the God {Elohe} of your⁺ father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob (he grasps the heel), either good or bad.’ 30 Now you have gone off because you long for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?” 31 “I was afraid,” Jacob (he grasps the heel) answered, “for I thought you (white) would take your daughters from me by force. 32 If you find your gods with anyone here, he shall not live! In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself if anything is yours, and take it back.” For Jacob (he grasps the heel) did not know that Rachel (little lamb) had stolen the idols. 33 So Laban (white) went into Jacob’s (he grasps the heel) tent, then Leah’s (weary) tent, and then the tents of the two maidservants, but he found nothing. Then he left Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s (little lamb) tent. 34 Now Rachel (little lamb) had taken Laban’s household idols, put them in the saddlebag of her camel, and was sitting on them. And Laban (white) searched everything in the tent but found nothing. 35 Rachel said to her father, “Sir, do not be angry that I cannot stand up before you; for I am having my period.” So Laban searched but could not find the household idols. Genesis 31:19-35, Berean Annotated Bible. Public domain.
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