Laban Seeks His Gods

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When Laban found that Jacob had fled, he gathered all his servants and pursued him. One incident of the pursuit is interesting in that it suggests that Laban, and his daughters too, had forgotten God and turned to the worship of idols. When Rachel stole out of her father’s house, she carried secretly with her “the images that were her father’s.”

‎Laban’s unencumbered troop easily caught up with Jacob’s herds, and a sharp discussion followed, Laban protesting that he had always loved Jacob and meant well by him, yet Jacob had now stolen both his daughters and his “gods.” We are told that God appeared to Laban with a direct warning, or else he would have attacked Jacob. The latter soothed him with words and, denying all knowledge of his “gods,” bade him search for them. Laban did so, but Rachel had hidden them so cunningly that they could not be found. So at length Jacob and Laban agreed to make a covenant of peace together, and to separate as friends. They were evidently too much alike to harmonize.