Genesis 31:19   (Read all of Genesis 31)

When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father's household gods.

Genesis 31:21   (Read all of Genesis 31)

So he fled with all he had, crossed the Euphrates River, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.

Genesis 31:23   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Taking his relatives with him, he pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.

Genesis 31:24   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, "Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad."

Genesis 31:26   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Then Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done? You've deceived me, and you've carried off my daughters like captives in war.

Genesis 31:27   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn't you tell me, so I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of timbrels and harps?

Genesis 31:29   (Read all of Genesis 31)

I have the power to harm you; but last night the God of your father said to me, 'Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.'

Genesis 31:30   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father's household. But why did you steal my gods?"

Genesis 31:32   (Read all of Genesis 31)

But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live. 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.

Genesis 31:33   (Read all of Genesis 31)

So Laban went into Jacob's tent and into Leah's tent and into the tent of the two female servants, but he found nothing. After he came out of Leah's tent, he entered Rachel's tent.

Genesis 31:34   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them inside her camel's saddle and was sitting on them. Laban searched through everything in the tent but found nothing.

Genesis 31:35   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Rachel said to her father, "Don't be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence; I'm having my period." So he searched but could not find the household gods.

Genesis 31:37   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Now that you have searched through all my goods, what have you found that belongs to your household? Put it here in front of your relatives and mine, and let them judge between the two of us.

Genesis 31:38   (Read all of Genesis 31)

"I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks.

Genesis 31:39   (Read all of Genesis 31)

I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night.

Genesis 31:40   (Read all of Genesis 31)

This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes.

Genesis 31:41   (Read all of Genesis 31)

It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times.

Genesis 31:42   (Read all of Genesis 31)

If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you."

Genesis 31:43   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Laban answered Jacob, "The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks. All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne?

Genesis 31:44   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Come now, let's make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us."

Genesis 31:45   (Read all of Genesis 31)

So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.

Genesis 31:46   (Read all of Genesis 31)

He said to his relatives, "Gather some stones." So they took stones and piled them in a heap, and they ate there by the heap.

Genesis 31:47   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed.

Genesis 31:48   (Read all of Genesis 31)

Laban said, "This heap is a witness between you and me today." That is why it was called Galeed.