 | VaYetse |  |
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| | 28:18 |
Jacob got up early in the morning and took the stone that he had placed under his head. He stood it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.
Vayashkem Ya'akov baboker vayikach et-ha'even asher-sam mera'ashotav vayasem otah matsevah vayitsok shemen al-roshah. |
| 28:19 |
He named the place God's Temple (Beth El). The town's original name, however, had been Luz.
Vayikra et-shem-hamakom hahu Beyt-El ve'ulam Luz shem ha'ir larishonah. |
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Commentary:
God's Temple...
We render this Beth El instead of Bethel. According to many authorities, Jacob was lying on the place of the Holy of Holies in Jerusalem (Pesachim 88a; Pirkey Rabbi Eliezer 35; Ramban). Hence, it was literally the 'gate of heaven' (see Jerusalem, Eye of the Universe, p. 50). From Beer-sheba to Jerusalem is 42 miles, a good day's journey (see note on Genesis 30:36). According to others, however, this was the Bethel which was Abraham's first home in the Holy Land (Genesis 12:8).
| Luz
See Genesis 35:6, 48:3; Rashi on Joshua 16:2, 18:13, Judges 1:23. Also see Judges 1:26. According to those who say that Beth El is in Jerusalem, there were two villages there, Salem (Genesis 14:18) and Luz.
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