Read Genesis 28 here or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
27:1-28:9 {s} Jacob receives the blessing / Esau’s jealousy [life of Jacob repeats events from the life of Isaac]
28:10-32:2 {p} …
Gen 28:13-22 makes an interesting Chiastic Structure:
About the C pair: Bethel in Hebrew translates to “house of God” in English.
About the A pair: The NKJV of Gen 28:13 says that YHVH stood above the ladder, in other words, in heaven where the top of the ladder was. But the Hebrew Bible in English says that YHVH stood beside Jacob; instead of above the ladder, as the NKJV has it. The Hebrew translates to “beside him”–i.e., beside Jacob. So then how does the A pair match? YHVH stood beside Jacob, to be with him and to keep him, as He vowed, and Jacob stood beside YHVH, that is, he stood with Him, to acknowledge Him as God and to worship Him as God, as he vowed. It is a picture of a reciprocal relationship of faithfulness and loyalty. Isn’t that beautiful?
And in this chapter we have a very clear History that Prophesies of Messiah, as Yeshua Himself taught Nathaniel:
And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” Joh 1:51
Mankind can try to build a tower whose top reaches into the heavens, but the Ladder which God has provided is the Way into heaven, who is Messiah Yeshua our Lord!
If there are questions, these are good resources:
Genesis in Chiastic Structure – Christine Miller
Finding Messiah in Torah – Christine Miller
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