The patriach Jacob led an exciting life. Fleeing his brother Esau (whom he had cheated out of him inheritance), Jacob spent a night in the wilds, using a stone for a pillow.
He had a dream of a stairway to heaven, with angels going up and down it. (Older translations read “ladder” instead of “stair-way.”) Above the stairway God Himself spoke and renewed His covenant with Jacob’s grandfather Abraham, promising blessing on Jacob’s descendants. Jacob awoke and concluded, “Surely the LORD is in this place . . . This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” (Gen. 28:16–17). Jacob named the spot Bethel (meaning “house of God”) and vowed that if God would guard him on his journey, he would be God’s man.
“Jacob’s Ladder” is a popular campfire song, and also the name of the rope ladders used on ships.