Jacob leaves Beersheba and travels toward Haran. As night falls, he stops at an ordinary place, takes a stone for a pillow, and lies down to sleep.

In a dream he sees a stairway or ladder set on the earth with its top reaching heaven. Angels of God are ascending and descending on it.

Above it stands the LORD, who identifies himself as the God of Abraham and Isaac. Jacob is promised the land on which he lies, descendants spreading in every direction, and blessing extending to the families of the earth.

The promise also becomes personal. God says he will be with Jacob, protect him wherever he goes, bring him back to the land, and not leave him until the promise has been fulfilled.

Jacob wakes in awe. He realizes that the LORD is in this place though he had not known it. He describes the location as the house of God and the gate of heaven.

Early the next morning Jacob sets up the stone he used as a pillow, pours oil on it, and names the place Bethel, meaning house of God.

Jacob then makes a vow concerning God’s presence, protection, food, clothing, and his eventual return. The fugitive journey has begun with uncertainty, but the dream places Jacob’s personal story inside the larger covenant story begun with Abraham.