Daily Chumash Rishon Vayeitzei – Yaakov’s dream

Rishon

1. Yaakov’s dream:
   • Yaakov sleeps during his journey to Charan: Yaakov departed from Beer Sheva and traveled towards Charan. [During his journey] he encountered the place [called Har Hamoriah, or the Temple Mount] and slept there, being that the sun had set. He took stones from the area and placed them around his head and laid down to sleep.
   • The dream, the angels, and the blessings from G-d: Yaakov had a dream. In the dream he saw a ladder reaching from the earth to the heavens, and there were angels ascending and descending from it. Hashem was standing over Yaakov and He said to him “I am Hashem the G-d of Avraham your father, and the G-d of Yitzchak. The land which you are resting on will be given to you and your descendants. Your descendants will multiply like the dust of the earth, and you will burst forth to all the directions of the world, the east, west, north and south. All the earth will bless themselves through you and your descendants. I am with you, and I will guard you wherever you go. I will return you to this land.”

2. Yaakov awakens and makes a vow to Hashem:

• Yaakov awakened from his sleep and he said, indeed, G-d is found in this place and I did not know. Yaakov became frightened and said “How awe-striking is this place. This is non other than a house of G-d and it is the gate of Heaven.”
• The Matzeiva: Yaakov awoke in the morning and took the stone that he placed around his head and erected it as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. He called the place “Beis Eil,” however Luz was its original name.
• The vow: Yaakov then made a vow, stating “If G-d will be with me, and guard me on my journey, and provide me with food to eat and clothing to wear, and return me to my father’s home in peace, and become for me a G-d, then this stone which I have set up will become a house of G-d, and all that I will earn will be tithed for You.”