Genesis 31:22-32

"And it was told to Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled. And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead. And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream of the night, and said unto him, Take heed to thyself that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. And Laban came up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain: and Laban and his brethren encamped in the mountain of Gilead. And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters as captives of the sword? Wherefore didst thou flee secretly, and steal away from me, and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth and with songs, with tabret and with harp; and didst not suffer me to kiss my sons and my daughters? now hast thou done foolishly. It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take heed to thyself that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods? And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Lest thou shouldest take thy daughters from me by force. With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, he shall not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them."

"Laban's pursuit covered about 300 miles. Jacob's company had about ten days to cover somewhat less than that, for he would have stationed his flocks strategically for departure."[22] As a matter of fact, we learned in Genesis 30:36 that Jacob had stationed them "three days' journey" from Laban; and that means Jacob traveled about 250 miles to reach the place of their confrontation. Even Song of Solomon 25 miles a day with a large herd of cattle appears to be unusual, and it is not unlikely that Laban may have lost a day or two getting started. He had to gather together his forces, and make arrangements for leaving his flocks and herds safely tended, and even if he got started the very next day, which the text seems to say, it might have been quite late. We are inclined to agree with Aalders that, "Laban knew that Jacob would be compelled to move slowly, and thus he was in no hurry to gather his forces and launch his pursuit."[23] The text does not tell us how long it took Jacob to reach the mountains of Gilead.

"Speak not to Jacob either good or bad ..." This is an idiomatic expression, "a proverbial phrase for opposition or interference."[24]

"Wherefore hast thou stolen my gods ... ?" Augustine noted that this is the first Scriptural reference to heathen gods. And significantly, it carries the condemnation of them in reference. What kind of "gods" are those which may be stolen!

"Wherefore didst thou flee secretly ... ?" Laban's pretense here, that if he had known of Jacob's desire, he would have sent him away by the celebration of festivities would appear to have been the height of hypocrisy. The Bible does not mention it, but the Jewish tradition persisted on this to the effect that, "After twenty years, Jacob desired permission from his father-in-law to take his wives and go home, but when his father-in-law would not give him permission, he contrived to do it secretly."[25] It is exactly that situation which was indicated by Jacob's statement that, "I was afraid ..."

This paragraph dramatically sets up the search for the stolen gods which is next related. A certain intensity rises in the reader's mind in the contemplation of what might have happened, if Laban had found his gods. Would Jacob have actually handed the beloved Rachel over to her father to be put to death? And would Laban have executed such a penalty upon her? Again, God over-ruled what men might have done by means of a deception.