Genesis 31:19-35 ▼

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

20 Jacob outwitted Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he intended to flee.

21 So he fled with everything that he had, and he arose and crossed the River, and set out toward the hill country of Gilead.

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

23 He took his relatives with him, and pursued after him for seven days, and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.

24 God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night, and said to him, |Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.|

25 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 Laban said to Jacob, |What have you done? You have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives taken in war?

27 Why did you flee in secret and deceive me, and not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with joy and singing, with a tambourine and with a lyre.

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

29 It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, 'Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.'

30 Now you have indeed gone away, because you longed greatly for your father’s house. But why have you stolen my gods?|

31 Jacob answered Laban, |Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.'

32 Anyone you find your gods with shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, identify what I have that is yours, and take it with you. |For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

33 Laban went into Jacob's tent, into Leah's tent, and into the tent of the two female servants; but he did not find them. He went out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.

34 Now Rachel had taken the idols, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. Laban searched the whole tent, but did not find them.

35 She said to her father, |Do not let my lord be angry that I can’t get up for you; for I am having my period. |He searched, but did not find the idols.