“And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.”
This verse is part of the narrative of Jacob’s dream at Bethel, which occurs in Genesis 28:10-22. Let’s explore the context and significance of Genesis 28:18 in the broader biblical story.
In this chapter, Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, is on a journey to find a wife among his relatives. As he travels, he stops for the night in an open area. While sleeping, he has a powerful dream in which he sees a ladder extending from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. In this dream, God appears to Jacob, reaffirms the covenant He made with Jacob’s grandfather Abraham, and promises to bless Jacob and his descendants.
After waking up from this profound encounter with God, Jacob is filled with awe and reverence. Recognizing the significance of the place where he received this divine revelation, he takes the stone that he had used as a pillow, sets it up as a pillar, and pours oil on top of it. This act of anointing the stone signifies consecration and dedication of the place to God.
Jacob’s actions in Genesis 28:18 symbolize his response to God’s presence and the covenant promises. By setting up the stone as a pillar and pouring oil on it, he establishes a memorial or sacred marker to commemorate this divine encounter. It serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness, His covenant with Abraham, and the personal promises made to Jacob.
The act of anointing with oil was a significant ritual in the Old Testament, representing consecration, blessing, and setting apart for a sacred purpose. The anointing of the stone reflects Jacob’s desire to honor God’s presence and to mark the place as a sacred site.
Furthermore, this event foreshadows the practice of building altars and setting up pillars throughout the Bible as places of worship and remembrance. It establishes a pattern of dedicating physical objects or locations as reminders of God’s presence and the encounters people had with Him.
In summary, Genesis 28:18 highlights Jacob’s response to his encounter with God. By setting up the stone as a pillar and pouring oil on it, Jacob establishes a sacred marker to commemorate the divine revelation and consecrates the place to God. It serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and the covenant promises made to Jacob. This act of consecration foreshadows the practice of building altars and pillars as reminders of encounters with God throughout the Bible.
