Genesis 31:19-35 ▼

19 And Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole the teraphim that belonged to her father.

20 And Jacob stole the heart of Laban the Aramaean, by not telling him that he was fleeing.

21 And he fled—he and all that was unto him—and He rose and he passed over the River and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.

22 And it was told to Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled.

23 And he took his brothers with him, and pursued after him a journey of seven days, and he overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.

24 And God came to Laban the Aramaean in a dream of the night and said to him, “Guard yourself, lest you speak to Jacob from good to evil.”

25 And Laban overtook Jacob. And Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban pitched his tent with his brothers in the hill country of Gilead.

26 And Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? And you have stolen my heart, and you have driven my daughters like captives of the sword!

27 Why have you fled secretly and stolen from me and not told me? And I would have sent you away with joy and with songs, with tambourines and with harps?

28 And you did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters! Now you have acted foolishly in doing this.

29 It is in the power of my hand to do with you? evil; but the God of your? father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Guard yourself from speaking with Jacob from good to evil.’

30 And you have surely gone away because you have surely longed for the house of your father. Why did you steal my gods?”

31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said: Lest you take by force your daughters from me.

32 With whomever you find your gods, he shall not live; before our brothers discern what of yours is with me, and take it with you.” And Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

33 And Laban went into the tent of Jacob, and into the tent of Leah, and into the tent of the two maidservants, and he did not find anything. And he went out of the tent of Leah and entered into the tent of Rachel.

34 And Rachel had taken the teraphim and put them in the saddle of the camel, and sat on them. And Laban felt all about the tent, and he did not find them.

35 And she said to her father, “Do not let it burn in the eyes of my lord that I am not able to rise before you, for the way of women is with me.” And he searched and he did not find the teraphim.