The term signifies “House of God” in Hebrew. It refers to a location that held significant religious importance for the Israelites, particularly due to events involving the patriarch Jacob. The narrative in Genesis recounts how Jacob, fleeing from his brother Esau, rested at a place called Luz. There, he experienced a dream of a ladder stretching to heaven with angels ascending and descending. Upon awakening, Jacob declared the spot to be the “House of God,” renaming it from Luz to the stated term. This act established it as a sacred site.
Its importance lies in its association with divine encounters and covenants. Following Jacob’s experience, it became a place of worship and sacrifice. The location served as a focal point for Israelite religious identity. Throughout the Old Testament, the site is mentioned in connection with various significant events, reflecting its continued relevance to Israelite faith and history. It symbolizes the tangible presence of the divine in a specific location and the possibility of communication between heaven and earth. Historically, it existed as a city within the territory allotted to the tribe of Benjamin, eventually falling under the control of the northern kingdom of Israel.
