Knowing The Word in Genesis 31:17-32, The Drama Builds

17 So Jacob arose and set his sons and his wives on camels. 18 He drove away all his livestock, all his property that he had gained, the livestock in his possession that he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac. 19 Laban had gone to shear his sheep [providing the perfect cover for Jacob’s escape], and Rachel stole her father's household gods. [These household gods are thought to be small, possibly representing ancestors and used to divine the future. They would be easy for Rachel to hide, but why would she take them?] 20 And Jacob tricked [literally “stole the heart of”] Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee. 21 He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the Euphrates, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead [east of the Jordan between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea].

22 When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, 23 he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead. 24 But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.” [God intervenes again.]

25 And Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen pitched tents in the hill country of Gilead. 26 And Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have tricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword? [So begins a speech (that God has warned him not to give) of thirteen sentences in which rage and resignation, castigation and sweetness contend for mastery and eventually achieve an unstable equilibrium with Laban speaking with pure hypocrisy.] 27 Why did you flee secretly and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre? 28 And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? Now you have done foolishly. 29 It is in my power to do you harm. But the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’ 30 And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father's house, but why did you steal my gods?” [This was the worst act for Laban.] 31 Jacob answered [in a counterattack] and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. 32 Anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live. In the presence of our kinsmen point out what I have that is yours, and take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them. [The tension is building.]