19. Now, while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole the household’s divine images that belonged to her father.
20. Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not sending word to him that he was leaving.
21. So Jacob and his entire household left. He got up, crossed the river, and set out directly for the mountains of Gilead.
22. Three days later, Laban found out that Jacob had gone,
23. so Laban took his brothers with him, chased Jacob for seven days, and caught up with him in the mountains of Gilead.
24. That night, God appeared to Laban the Aramean in a dream and said, "Be careful and don’t say anything hastily to Jacob one way or the other."
25. Laban reached Jacob after Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountains. So Laban and his brothers also pitched theirs in the mountains of Gilead.
26. Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done? You have deceived me and taken off with my daughters as if they were prisoners of war.
27. Why did you leave secretly, deceiving me, and not letting me know? I would’ve sent you off with a celebration, with songs and tambourines and harps.
28. You didn’t even let me kiss my sons and my daughters good-bye. Now you’ve acted like a fool,
29. and I have the power to punish you. However, your father’s God told me yesterday, ‘Be careful and don’t say anything hastily to Jacob one way or the other.’
30. You’ve rushed off now because you missed your father’s household so much, but why did you steal my gods?"
31. Jacob responded to Laban, "I was afraid and convinced myself that you would take your daughters away from me.