Bethel
A place in the Bible
A city north of Jerusalem. It used to be called Luz (in the Douay-Rheims, “Luza”). Its name means “house of God.”
What happened here
- Jacob’s ladder: running away from his brother, Jacob slept there with a stone for a pillow. He dreamed of a ladder that reached to heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down on it.
- The promise: the Lord promised Jacob that he would be with him wherever he went.
- “The house of God”: Jacob woke up and said that the Lord was in this place and he had not known it. He set up the stone as a memorial and named the place Bethel.
- Elijah and Elisha: before Elijah was taken up to heaven, the two of them passed through Bethel.
Today
It is identified with Beitin, in the West Bank.
Where it appears in the Bible
Genesis 28:11-12; Genesis 28:15; Genesis 28:16-19; 2 Kings 2:2-3
What the Bible says
Genesis 28:11-12
11And when he was come to a certain place, and would rest in it after sunset, he took of the stones that lay there, and putting under his head, slept in the same place. 12And he saw in his sleep a ladder standing upon the earth, and the top thereof touching heaven: the angels also of God ascending and descending by it;
Genesis 28:15
And I will be thy keeper whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee back into this land: neither will I leave thee, till I shall have accomplished all that I have said.
Genesis 28:16-19
16And when Jacob awaked out of sleep, he said: Indeed the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not. 17And trembling he said: How terrible is this place! this is no other but the house of God, and the gate of heaven. 18And Jacob, arising in the morning, took the stone, which he had laid under his head, and set it up for a title, pouring oil upon the top of it. 19And he called the name of the city Bethel, which before was called Luza.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), “Bethel”; Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), “Bethel”