Genesis 31:19-35 ▼

19 Now Laban had gone to shear his flock. Then Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s.

20 And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing.

21 So he fled with all that he had; and he arose and crossed the River and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.

22 Then it was told to Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled;

23 so he took his relatives with him and pursued him a distance of seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.

24 And God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, “Beware lest you speak to Jacob either good or bad.”

25 So Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his relatives camped in the hill country of Gilead.

26 Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done by deceiving me and carrying away my daughters like captives of the sword?

27 Why did you flee secretly and deceive me and not tell me—so that I might have sent you away with gladness and with songs, with tambourine and with lyre—

28 and not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have acted foolishly.

29 It is in my hand to do evil against you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Beware of speaking either good or evil to Jacob.’

30 So now you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house; but why did you steal my gods?”

31 Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, because I said, ‘Lest you take your daughters from me by force.’

32 The one with whom you find your gods shall not live; in the presence of our relatives recognize what is yours among my belongings and take it for yourself.” But Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

33 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two maidservants, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.

34 Now Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the camel’s saddle, and she sat on them. And Laban felt through all the tent but did not find them.

35 And she said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household idols.