Genesis 28

Genesis 28 belongs to the early part of the story of the patriarch Jacob. In Genesis 27, Jacob took the blessing intended for his brother Esau. This chapter follows Jacob as he leaves home to escape his brother's anger.

Outline

• Verses 1–5 Isaac charges Jacob not to take a wife from the women of Canaan but from among the daughters of his uncle Laban, who lives in Padan-aram. He then prays that the blessing given to Abraham will pass to Jacob and sends him away.
• Verses 6–9 Esau realizes that the Canaanite women do not please his father, so he takes an additional wife, Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael.
• Verses 10–15 Jacob leaves Beersheba and, on his way to Haran, sleeps with a stone for a pillow. In a dream he sees a ladder reaching to heaven, with the angels of God ascending and descending on it. The LORD promises him land, descendants, and His presence.
• Verses 16–19 When he awakes, Jacob calls the place "the house of God" and "the gate of heaven." He sets up the stone he had used as a pillow as a pillar, pours oil on it, and names the place, formerly called Luz, Bethel.
• Verses 20–22 Jacob vows that if God will keep him and bring him back in peace, the LORD will be his God. He also promises to give a tenth of all he receives.

Key Verses

• Genesis 28:15 "I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest" — the promise given to Abraham is reaffirmed to Jacob, who is now a fugitive.
• Genesis 28:17 "This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven" — this explains the meaning of the name Bethel ("house of God").
• Genesis 28:22 "I will surely give the tenth unto thee" — frequently cited as a promise of the tithe made before the giving of the Law.

People and Places

• Laban: Rebekah's brother and Jacob's uncle; the son of Bethuel the Aramean.
• Padan-aram: A region in northern Mesopotamia where Rebekah's family lived.
• Mahalath: The daughter of Ishmael and the sister of Nebajoth.
• Luz: The original name of Bethel.
• The messengers of God are commonly understood to be angels.

Points for Reflection

• The ladder and the New Testament: In John 1:51, Jesus says that his hearers will see "the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." Many church traditions connect this saying with this chapter and read it as presenting Christ as the one who joins heaven and earth. Some scholars hold that the Hebrew term is closer to a stairway or ramp than a ladder. For more detail, see Jacob's Ladder.
• A conditional vow: Interpretations of verses 20–22 differ. Some see Jacob bargaining with God and displaying an immature faith; others see his vow as a response to the promise he has received.
• A basis for the tithe: Together with the account of Abraham in Genesis 14, this chapter is cited as evidence that the tithe existed even before the Law. Others argue that it records merely a personal, voluntary vow and can hardly be regarded as a norm for all believers (see Tithing Debate).
• The later story: Bethel reappears in Genesis 35 as the place to which Jacob returns and where he builds an altar.

In the Korean Church

• Preaching: "Will keep thee in all places whither thou goest" (v. 15) is often used in sermons and prayers of blessing for church members who are leaving home, for example when moving, studying abroad, or emigrating. Verse 22 is frequently cited alongside Malachi 3:8–10 in sermons on tithes and offerings.
• Hymnody: The hymn "Nearer, My God, to Thee" draws on the story of Jacob's stone pillow in its lyrics.