23. He took his men with him and pursued Jacob for seven days until he caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.
24. In a dream that night God came to Laban and said to him, “Be careful not to threaten Jacob in any way.”
25. Jacob had set up his camp on a mountain, and Laban set up his camp with his relatives in the hill country of Gilead.
26. Laban said to Jacob, “Why did you deceive me and carry off my daughters like women captured in war?
27. Why did you deceive me and slip away without telling me? If you had told me, I would have sent you on your way with rejoicing and singing to the music of tambourines and harps.
28. You did not even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. That was a foolish thing to do!
29. I have the power to do you harm, but last night the God of your father warned me not to threaten you in any way.
30. I know that you left because you were so anxious to get back home, but why did you steal my household gods?”
31. Jacob answered, “I was afraid, because I thought that you might take your daughters away from me.
32. But if you find that anyone here has your gods, he will be put to death. Here, with our men as witnesses, look for anything that belongs to you and take what is yours.” Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen Laban's gods.
33. Laban went and searched Jacob's tent; then he went into Leah's tent, and the tent of the two slave women, but he did not find his gods. Then he went into Rachel's tent.
34. Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in a camel's saddlebag and was sitting on them. Laban searched through the whole tent, but did not find them.
35. Rachel said to her father, “Do not be angry with me, sir, but I am not able to stand up in your presence; I am having my monthly period.” Laban searched but did not find his household gods.
36. Then Jacob lost his temper. “What crime have I committed?” he asked angrily. “What law have I broken that gives you the right to hunt me down?