20. Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean. He did not tell Laban he was leaving.
21. Jacob took his family and everything he owned and left quickly. They crossed the Euphrates River and traveled toward the hill country of Gilead.
22. Three days later Laban learned that Jacob had run away.
23. So he gathered his men together and began to chase Jacob. After seven days Laban found Jacob near the hill country of Gilead.
24. That night God came to Laban in a dream and said, “Be careful! Be careful of every word you say to Jacob.”
25. The next morning Laban caught up with Jacob. Jacob had set up his camp on the mountain, so Laban and all his men set up their camp in the hill country of Gilead.
26. Laban said to Jacob, “Why did you trick me? Why did you take my daughters like they were women you captured during war?
27. Why did you run away without telling me? If you had told me, I would have given you a party. There would have been singing and dancing with music.
28. You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. You were very foolish to do this!
29. I have the power to really hurt you. But last night the God of your father came to me in a dream. He warned me not to hurt you in any way.
30. I know that you want to go back to your home. That is why you left. But why did you steal the gods from my house?”
31. Jacob answered, “I left without telling you, because I was afraid. I thought you would take your daughters away from me.