Twelve miles northwest of Jerusalem, on the border of Samaria and Judea, is a little Arab village named Beitin, sometimes called Beit El. Nearby is the site of ancient Bethel. Here Jacob stopped for the night enroute to Haran and dreamed of angels ascending and descending on a ladder, or stairway, to heaven. There is a British tradition that the stone which served as Jacob's pillow is now under the seat of the Coronation chair in Westminster Abbey. Bethel means house of God. In the distance, in this picture, is the modern Arab village Beitin, near Bible-time Bethel. Looking west from ruins near Bethel.

bethel; israel; beitin; beit; el; jacob; ladder; stairway; angel; heaven; west; ladders; stairways; angels; heavens