Jacob's Ladder at Bethel

While traveling from Beersheba toward Haran, Jacob reached a certain place and stayed there for the night because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from that location, placed it under his head, and lay down to sleep. As he slept, he had a dream in which he saw a stairway, or ladder, resting on the earth with its top reaching toward heaven (Genesis 28:10-12). The text states that the angels of God were ascending and descending on this structure. The text does not say how many angels were present or what they looked like.

In the dream, God stood above the ladder and identified himself as the God of Abraham and Isaac. God promised to give the land on which Jacob lay to him and his descendants. The text records a promise that Jacob’s offspring would be like the dust of the earth, spreading to the west, east, north, and south, and that all peoples on earth would be blessed through him and his offspring (Genesis 28:13-14). God further stated that he would be with Jacob, would watch over him wherever he went, and would bring him back to this land, promising not to leave him until his word was fulfilled.

Upon waking, Jacob stated that God was in that place, though he had not known it. He expressed fear, describing the location as the house of God and the gate of heaven. Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone he had used as a pillow, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it (Genesis 28:16-18). Although the city was formerly named Luz, Jacob renamed the place Bethel. He then made a vow, stating that if God would be with him, provide him with food and clothing, and return him safely to his father’s house, then the Lord would be his God and the stone pillar would be God’s house.