Bethel

Ancient Israelite sanctuary where Jacob had his vision of the ladder (or stairway) reaching to heaven with angels ascending and descending. Bethel, meaning “House of God,” became one of Israel’s most important worship sites.

Originally called Luz, the city received its new name after Jacob’s transformative encounter with God while fleeing from Esau. Jacob erected a stone pillar, anointed it with oil, and vowed that if God protected him, this would become God’s house. Upon his return years later, Jacob built an altar at Bethel and God reaffirmed his covenant promises (Genesis 35).

Bethel’s prominence continued throughout Israelite history. The Ark of the Covenant resided there during the period of the Judges (Judges 20:26-28). However, after the kingdom divided, King Jeroboam I established Bethel as a northern sanctuary with a golden calf, competing with Jerusalem’s temple—an act condemned by the prophets as leading Israel into idolatry.

The prophets Amos and Hosea denounced Bethel’s corrupt worship practices, with Amos calling it “Beth-aven” (House of Wickedness). Despite its compromised state, Bethel remained significant as a location where God had genuinely revealed himself, demonstrating how sacred sites can be both blessed and corrupted.