17 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;

18 And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.

19 And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.

20 And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.

21 So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.

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

23 And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.

24 And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.

26 And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?

27 Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?

28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.

29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

30 And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.

32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.

33 And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.

34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.

35 And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched but found not the images.

36 And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?

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17 Then Jacob put his children and his wives(A) on camels,(B) 18 and he drove all his livestock ahead of him, along with all the goods he had accumulated(C) in Paddan Aram,[a](D) to go to his father Isaac(E) in the land of Canaan.(F)

19 When Laban had gone to shear his sheep,(G) Rachel stole her father’s household gods.(H) 20 Moreover, Jacob deceived(I) Laban the Aramean(J) by not telling him he was running away.(K) 21 So he fled(L) with all he had, crossed the Euphrates River,(M) and headed for the hill country of Gilead.(N)

Laban Pursues Jacob

22 On the third day(O) Laban was told that Jacob had fled.(P) 23 Taking his relatives(Q) with him(R), he pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.(S) 24 Then God came to Laban the Aramean(T) in a dream at night and said to him,(U) “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”(V)

25 Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead(W) when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there too. 26 Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done?(X) You’ve deceived me,(Y) and you’ve carried off my daughters like captives in war.(Z) 27 Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me,(AA) so I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of timbrels(AB) and harps?(AC) 28 You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye.(AD) You have done a foolish thing. 29 I have the power to harm you;(AE) but last night the God of your father(AF) said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’(AG) 30 Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father’s household.(AH) But why did you steal(AI) my gods?(AJ)

31 Jacob answered Laban, “I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force.(AK) 32 But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live.(AL) In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods.(AM)

33 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent(AN) and into the tent of the two female servants,(AO) but he found nothing.(AP) After he came out of Leah’s tent, he entered Rachel’s tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the household gods(AQ) and put them inside her camel’s saddle(AR) and was sitting on them. Laban searched(AS) through everything in the tent but found nothing.

35 Rachel said to her father, “Don’t be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence;(AT) I’m having my period.(AU)” So he searched but could not find the household gods.(AV)

36 Jacob was angry and took Laban to task. “What is my crime?” he asked Laban. “How have I wronged(AW) you that you hunt me down?(AX)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 31:18 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia