Genesis Chapter 28
The well-recognized event described generally as "Jacob's Ladder'' is detailed in the 28th Chapter of Genesis. From a scriptural standpoint, there are other important events in this chapter, but clearly "Jacob's Ladder" is the best known, although few people really understand its context or know precisely where to find it in the Bible.
Many people have heard of "Jacob's Ladder". Many know of it only as a trick using and piece of string and creating a certain configuration of the string around your fingers. Few know its original context. It is an interesting historical short story in the Bible, and deals primarily with a dream of Jacob's.
It is important to recall events of the 27th Chapter of Genesis before summarizing the 28th chapter.
Jacob had deceived his father, Isaac, and had received the traditional first-born son's blessing instead of Esau. Esau became very mad and threatened to kill Jacob. Jacob's mother, Rebekah encourages Jacob to leave and find himself a bride. Esau had taken a bride which displeased his parents, Isaac and Rebekah.
The 28th Chapter begins with Isaac's blessing of Jacob and instruction to him to take a good wife, not a wife of the "daughters of Canaan" as Esau, had done. Isaac instructed Jacob to go to Rebekah's old home and find a wife among his mother's family.
When Esau heard that Isaac had sent Jacob with another blessing, Esau became angry again. Esau, whose first marriage had displeased Isaac and Rebekah, went to Ishmael (Abraham's son by Hagar the handmaiden) and took another wife from Ishmael's house, apparently to spite his father and mother. Gen. 28:6-9.
During Jacob's journey to find a wife, he stopped at a "certain place" to spend the night. For a pillow, Jacob stacked certain stones. Gen. 28:10-11.
During his sleep, Jacob had a special dream. In that dream he beheld a "ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached into heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it." Gen. 28:12.
The Lord was at the top of the Ladder and spoke to Jacob, confirming the covenant of Abraham in Jacob. God confirmed the land of Abraham in Jacob, and blessed Jacob to multiply through his seed to all parts of the earth: "and in thee and in thy, seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." 28:14.
When Jacob awoke, to honor the place, he poured oil upon the rock he made into a pillar. He called the place "Bethel" Jacob pledged himself to the Lord's service and pledged his tithes to the Lord. 28:18-22
The incident presents us with a clear statement that Jacob was the chosen seed of Isaac and Abraham, despite the deception Jacob in securing the blessing which traditionally would have gone to Esau.