Is it acceptable to doubt a divine promise? If YHVH made a promise to us, certainly we'd expect Him to keep it! Why then did Jacob vow to worship YHVH only if (and when) He fulfilled His promise to return him to the Promised Land? (Gen 28:20-22)

Why did Jacob make a vow at all? Neither Abraham nor Isaac ever made any sort of conditional vow after receiving their divine promises!

Why was Jacob different?

 

Part I - Jacob's Vow

YHVH appeared to Abraham & Isaac several times. We saw how a distinct aspect (or stage) of the "selection" process unfolded with each "appearence."

Now we find YHVH's first appearence (revelation) to Jacob. (Gen 28:10-17) Even though YHVH's promise in this "revelation" echoed His earlier promises to Abraham and Isaac, Jacobs' reaction differed drastically from that of his predecessors - he maked a vow.

To understand why, we must first consider Jacob's predicament before YHVH appeared to him at Bethel.

 

Something to Lose Sleep Over

Remember that the process of 'selection' was not very clear at the begining and even Abraham and Isaac themselves were not quite sure exactly when or how this selection process would finally end. With Esau and Jacob it became clear that the process would continue for at least one more generation: either Jacob or Esau would be chosen, but not both. Therefore, after the incident of the 'blessings', Isaac blessed Jacob with "the blessings of Abraham - seed and land" (Gen 28:3-4) - that YHVH should select him as the 'chosen' son. Despite his father's blessing, Jacob had many doubts whether or not he was indeed 'chosen.' Why? ---

First of all, only the day before, his father had planned to give the primary blessing to his older brother Esau. Secondly, Jacob's parents had just sent him away - to flee from Esau and look for a wife. (Gen 27:43 - 28:2) If Jacob was truly the chosen son, it should have been forbidden for him to leave Canaan just as his father Isaac was prohibited to leave during the famine, to go down to Egypt .(Gen 26:1-3)   When Isaac was getting married, Eliezer traveled to Padan Aram to bring Rebekah back - while he himself was not allowed to go.

Finally, when Isaac's brothers were rejected from the "selection" process, they were sent away to the East (Gen 25:6) Now, Jacob (the chosen one) himself was being sent away to the East (Gen 29:1) while Esau remains in Canaan! Although his father had blessed him and his mother had promised that she would later send for him (Gen 27:45) Jacob was still unsure of his future. After all, Isaac had only blessed him that YHVH should choose him over his brother:

"...and YHVH the Almighty bless you... and grant you the blessing of Abraham..." (Gen 28:3-4)

It is up to YHVH alone to make that final decision.

It is easy to see why Jacob needed some 'divine reassurance' before embarking on his journey to Padan Aram!

 

Jacob's Dream

We can now better understand both the nature of YHVH's opening "appearence" to Jacob at Beth-El and Jacob's immediate reaction.

As Jacob prepared to leave his 'Land' (Canaan), he was hoping to have a confirmation from YHVH that he was indeed the chosen son, which he promptly received.

"I am YHVH, the ELOHIM of Abraham and Isaac. The land upon which you are lying I have given to you and your offspring ('seed') and through you all the nations of the earth shall be blessed." (Gen 28:13-14)

Remember the key words - "seed" and "land". These were typical of YHVH's earlier "selection blessings" to Abraham and Isaac. (Gen 12:7, 13:15, 15:18, 17:8, &26:3) thus confirming to Jacob his "election", with an additional promise.

"And behold, I will be with you, and I will protect you wherever you go and bring you back to this Land..." (Gen 28:15)

This 'extra' promise was very important to Jacob in this unusual situation. YHVH addressed his fears by assuring him that even though he had to leave the Land of Canaan, He will remain with him, take care of him, and ultimately bring him back - because he indeed was the 'chosen son.'

 

Jacob's Reaction

Jacob's immediate reaction to YHVH's appearence was his realization of the unique, sacred quality of this site. (Gen 28:16-17)

"This place is none other than the house of ELOHIM and this is the gate of heaven."

Upon awakening from his vision of YHVH's promise, Jacob made a promise ('vow') of his own. If this site is indeed the 'gate of heaven,' then upon his return he will make it a 'House of ELOHIM' - 'Beth-El' in the Hebrew.

From that point on, everything that Jacob did related to his sudden awareness of the unique, spiritual quality of the spot where he slept. Immediately upon awakening, he set a 'marker' to remind him later of the precise location of this site:

"Jacob woke up early in the morning and took the stone that was under his head and set it up as a 'monument'; he then poured oil on it." (Gen 28:18-19)

At the end of his vow, Jacob promised that this stone will become the cornerstone of the House of Elohim. He therefore poured oil on it as a type of dedication ceremony.

Jacob made a vow to establish a Place of Worship at this very site upon his return. (Gen 28:22) However, before making this promise, he first established some 'conditions' that had to be met for his vow to be valid. "If YHVH will be with me..." (Gen 28:20)

Why did he make his promise conditional?

 

A Condition And A Promise

 

A TWO PART VOW:

1) A Condition - If...; followed by:
2) A Promise (the vow) - Then...

"And Jacob then made a vow saying:
1) If YHVH remains with me,
2) And He protects me on this journey on which I embark,
3) And gives me bread to eat and clothes to wear.
4) And I return safely to my father's house,
5) And then YHVH will be my ELOHIM.
6) And then this stone, which I have set up as a monument will be a House of EL
7) And from all that You give me I will set aside one-tenth."
(Gen 28:20-22)

Jacob's intentions were clear. His conditional vow was not a reflection of any doubt of YHVH's promise. It rather reflected his readiness to fulfill the divine purpose of his newly-confirmed 'election'. Instead of merely thanking YHVH for His promise, Jacob expressed his own commitment to the relationship! Recognizing that he was indeed the 'chosen son,' he volunteered to establish a House for YHVH - a place where the divine purpose for his "election" can be realized.

 

Part II - 'Beth El' And The Temple

 

Jacob's Dream, Israel's Future

 

Is it acceptable for one to doubt a divine promise? If YHVH maked a promise to us, certainly we'd expect Him to keep it! Why then did Jacob vow to worship YHVH only if (and when) He fulfilled His promise to return him to the Promised Land? (Gen 28:20-22)

Furthermore, why should Jacob make a vow at all? After all, neither Abraham nor Isaac ever made any sort of conditional vow after receiving their divine promises!

Why was Jacob different?

 

'Beth El' And The Temple

 

Let's take a look at the second verse of this 'revelation'.

"And your seed shall be like the dust of the earth, you shall spread out to the West, East, North, and South, and through you all the nations of the earth shall be blessed." (Gen 28:14)

The first two phrases - "the dust of the earth" and "east west north & south" - had been mentioned only once before, when YHVH affirmed Abraham's election at Beth-El (after Lot's relocation in Sodom)

"And YHVH said to Abram, after Lot had parted from him, Raise your eyes and look out... to the North, South, East, and West, for I give you all the land which you see... I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth..." (Gen 13:14-16)

This affirmation also took place at Beth El!

Beth-El was the focal point of Abraham's journey from both Mesopotamia and Egypt. Twice Abraham built an altar at Beth El and "called out in YHVH's name". (Gen 12:8, 13:4) This symbolized the ultimate mission of YHVH's special nation - to make YHVH's name known to all mankind. Therefore, the repetition of these two key phrases in YHVH's first revelation to Jacob emphasized not only his election but also its purpose.

Similarly, the third phrase in this verse - "and through you all the nations of the earth shall be blessed" - is also a virtual quote from earlier blessings. This promise appeared in the opening revelation to both Abraham (12:3) and Isaac (26:4), and now also to Jacob!

YHVH repeated this same statement when He consulted with Abraham before destroying Sodom (18:18) as well as in the 'offering of Isaac' incident. (22:18)

The reason why YHVH spoke the same 'Word of Promise' to each of the Fathers was to reflect His ultimate purpose for a special nation: through Israel all the nations of the world will be blessed. Through the leadership and guidance of Israel every nation will have the opportunity to develop a proper relationship with YHVH.

 

Jacob's Realization

 

When Jacob woke up, he was so struck by the unique and sacred quality of the spot where he spent the night, that he had to do 'something':

"And Jacob woke up from his sleep and proclaimed: ... How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of Elohim and the gate to Heaven" (Gen 28:16)

Obviously, the vision of angels ascending and descending the ladder led Jacob to conclude that this site was the gateway to heaven. What was it about this site that gave him the impression of being in the House of Elohim?

Jacob first refered to the place as "Bet Elohim" and only afterward as "gateway to heaven." "This is none other than Beth Elohim, and this is the gate to heaven." The fact that he divided his comment into two distinct sections suggests that he reached two unrelated conclusions.

 

Beth-El & Bet Elohim

 

The two common phrases, 'dust of the earth' and 'eastward...' told Jacob that he was actually standing on the same site where Abraham built an altar and 'called out in YHVH's Name.' Jacob knew that this place was a Bet Elohim. Meaning, it had been designated for the very purpose of 'worship'- to offer sacrifices and proclaim YHVH's Name.

This reminded Jacob of his grandfather Abraham's experience in Beth-El two generations earlier. He was reminded to follow his grandfather's example. Jacob should have built an altar and 'called out in YHVH's Name' like his grandfather. So why did he set up a stone for a pillar and made a vow instead?

Could it be because Jacob was in a hurry, fleeing from his brother Esau? He was in no condition to 'call out in YHVH's Name' and besides, no one was around to listen, and Esau may be right behind him! Unlike Abraham, whom the local population considered as "the prince of YHVH in our midst" (Gen 23:6) Jacob had yet to earn such a reputation in Canaan.

Jacob knew he could not build an altar as Abraham had done, but he hoped that one day he would return and fulfill that very same goal. Therefore, he marked this spot by erecting a pillar and anointing it with oil (Gen 28:18) thus designating it as the cornerstone for his future Bet-Elohim. He then promised that when he indeed returns, he will establish a House for Elohim at this site and build an altar and call out in YHVH's Name. Jacob's vow reflected not only his understanding of the purpose of his election but also his hope to one day fulfill that destiny.

Abraham was chosen for a purpose, to establish a nation that will brings YHVH's message to all mankind. A "House of Elohim" - The Temple - serves as the primary vehicle to fulfill that purpose. Jacob vowed that if and when YHVH fulfilled His promise of the election by returning him to the Promised Land, he will fulfill the purpose of that election by establishing a "House of Worship."

 

Beth-El - A Spiritual Intersection

This is the first Biblical reference to the concept of a 'House' for YHVH, and though it's mentioned only once throughout the book of Genesis, this concept constitutes one of the most fundamental spiritual principles in Torah, as it presupposes the possibility of man visiting the 'House' as a means of improving his relationship with YHVH.

Jacob's description of this site as both "Gate of Heaven" and "House of Elohim" can help us understand the nature and purpose of the Bet ha'Mikdash - The Temple, and how it represented the potential heights of our relationship with YHVH.

The "Gate to Heaven" aspect of the Temple, symbolized by the angels ascending and descending from Heaven, suggested the possibility of a 'vertical' relationship, a connecting point between Heaven and Earth and YHVH and Man.

In contrast, the 'Bet Elohim' aspect, a house on earth where Man can encounter YHVH Elohim, implieed the potential for a 'horizontal' relationship. Here the Temple serves as both a center for congregation as well as the means of dissemination. From this site, YHVH's Word and the recognition of His Authority could be spread to all mankind. (Isaiah 2:1-5)

This centrality was reflected by the unique phrase at Bet El - "west, east, north and south" which symbolized this spreading of YHVH's Word to all four corners of the earth. From YHVH's perspective, so-to-speak, the "shechinah" (His Presence) descends to earth by way of "the Gate of Heaven" and radiates through His Torah from His House to all of mankind. From man's perspective, we gather at the "House" to serve YHVH, and through the "Gate" we are able to climb the 'ladder' of holiness (Yashua) to Heaven.