20. Jacob also deceived Laban the Syrian by not telling him that he was fleeing.
21. So Jacob fled with all that he had, and he rose up and passed over the river and headed toward the mountains of Gilead.
22. Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled.
23. He took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days until he caught up with him in the mountains of Gilead.
24. But God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night and said to him, “Take care that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.”
25. Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent on the mountain, and Laban with his kinsmen pitched in the mountains of Gilead.
26. Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done that you have stolen away without my knowing and carried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword?
27. Why did you flee away secretly and sneak away from me and not tell me? I would have sent you away with joy and with songs, with the tambourine and harp.
28. And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? You have acted foolishly in so doing.
29. It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Take care that you not speak to Jacob either good or bad.’
30. Now you surely have gone away because you longed desperately after your father’s house, yet why have you stolen my gods?”
31. Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.