Bereshis 28:19

19 And he called the shem of that place Beit-El; but the shem of that ir was called Luz at the first.

Bereshis 28:19 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 28:19

And he called the name of that place Bethel
The house of God, which he took this place to be: but the name of that city [was called] Luz at the first;
which signifies an almond or hazel nut, ( Genesis 30:37 ) ; perhaps from the number of this sort of trees that grew there, under which Jacob might lay himself down, which was probably in the field of Luz; and being at night, he might not know there was a city so near, until the morning. Though Josephus ^F18 says he did it purposely, out of hatred to the Canaanites, and chose rather to lie under the open air. This was about twelve miles from Jerusalem, as Jerom ^F19 says.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 19. sect. 1.
F19 De loc. Heb. fol. 89. C.

Bereshis 28:19 In-Context

17 And he was afraid, and said, How nora (awesome) is this place! This is none other than the Beis Elohim, and this is the Sha’ar HaShomayim.

18 And Ya’akov rose up early in the boker, and took haeven (the stone) that he had put for his pillow, and set it up for a matzevah (pillar), and poured shemen upon the top of it.

19 And he called the shem of that place Beit-El; but the shem of that ir was called Luz at the first.

20 And Ya’akov vowed a neder (vow), saying, If Elohim will be with me, and will be shomer over me in this derech (way, journey) that I go, and will give me lechem to eat, and beged (clothes) to put on,

21 So that I return to bais avi in shalom; then shall Hashem be for me Elohim (my G-d).