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XVI. JACOB’S FLIGHT, VISION, AND EXILE.

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pened that night overtook him in an open plain. Being tired from the journey, he lay down^[1] on the ground and slept, having a stone for a pillow. In his sleep he saw a ladder standing upon the earth, the top touching heaven; and by it the angels of God ascended and descended. The Lord was leaning upon the ladder

Fig. 9. Bethel. (Phot. Bonfils.)

and said to him: “I am the Lord God of Abraham, thy father, and the God of Isaac^[2]. The land wherein thou sleepest I will give to thee and to thy seed. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth; and in thee and thy seed all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed.”

↑ He lay down. Jacob had already travelled for several days, and when he arrived, tired out, at Bethel (four hours’ journey north of Jerusalem; Fig. 9), he had to sleep in the open air. Wild beasts might have devoured him, or hostile men might have seized him and taken him prisoner. But Jacob trusted in God: he prayed fervently, and commended himself to the care of the Almighty. Then God comforted him by revealing Himself to him in a dream.
↑ God of Isaac. i. e. the same God who appeared to thy grandfather Abraham and thy father Isaac, and gave them the promises. Almighty God then repeated to Jacob the same promises, namely, that the land of Chanaan should belong to his descendants; that his posterity should be very numerous, and that of his family should be born the Redeemer.

[1] He lay down. Jacob had already travelled for several days, and when he arrived, tired out, at Bethel (four hours’ journey north of Jerusalem; Fig. 9), he had to sleep in the open air. Wild beasts might have devoured him, or hostile men might have seized him and taken him prisoner. But Jacob trusted in God: he prayed fervently, and commended himself to the care of the Almighty. Then God comforted him by revealing Himself to him in a dream.

[2] God of Isaac. i. e. the same God who appeared to thy grandfather Abraham and thy father Isaac, and gave them the promises. Almighty God then repeated to Jacob the same promises, namely, that the land of Chanaan should belong to his descendants; that his posterity should be very numerous, and that of his family should be born the Redeemer.

[1]

[2]