Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/123

 And when  Jacob  awoke  from  sleep,  he  said:  “Indeed,  the Lord is  in  this  place,  and  I knew  it  not  How  terrible  is  this place! This is  no  other  but  the  house  of  God  and the gate of heaven.”  As  soon  as  morning  dawned,  he  took  the  stone upon which  his  head  had  lain  during  the  vision,  and  set  it  up  as a monument;  he  also  poured  oil  upon  it,  in  honour  of  God, and changed  the  name  of  the  place  from  Luza  to  Bethel,  that is to  say,  the  house  of  God. He also  made  a vow,  saying:  “If God shall  be  with  me,  and  I shall  return  prosperously  to  my father’s  house,  the  Lord  shall  be  my  God;  and  of  all  things  that Thou shalt  give  me  I will  offer  tithes  to  Thee.”

This being  done,  he  continued  his  journey,  and  having  come to a well  near  which  three  flocks  of  sheep  were  lying,  he  addressed the  shepherds  who  were  tending  their  flocks,  saying: “Brethren, whence  are  you?”  They  answered:  “Of  Haran.”  He then  asked  them  if  they  knew  Laban,  the  son  of  Nachor. They replied: “We know  him: and  behold! Rachel, his  daughter  cometh with his  flock.”  When  Rachel  drew  near,  Jacob  met  her  in  a friendly  manner,  and  rolled  the  stone  from  the  mouth  of  the  well so that  her  flock  might  drink. He informed  Rachel  that  he  was the son  of  Rebecca,  her  father’s  sister. She joyfully  ran  home and announced  the  glad  tidings  to  her  father  who,  coming  out, embraced Jacob  and  then  conducted  him  to  his  house. Jacob remained twenty  years  with  Laban,  tending  his  flocks  with