Bethel

Bethel refers to a place mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. In the Old Testament, Bethel is first introduced as a city located in the hill country of Ephraim. Its original name was Luz, but it was renamed Bethel by Jacob after he had a dream of a ladder reaching to heaven with angels ascending and descending. Jacob declared the place to be holy, calling it "the house of God" and "the gate of heaven." Bethel became a significant religious site, with people offering sacrifices and worship there. Later, after the division of the Kingdom of Israel, Jeroboam I established a rival sanctuary at Bethel, placing golden calves there to deter his people from traveling to Jerusalem. This act is often seen as a turning point towards idolatry.

In the New Testament, Bethel is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel of Luke. It is also referenced in the context of biblical prophecies. The name Bethel has a meaning of "house of God" or "house of the divine" in Hebrew. Over time, the site of ancient Bethel has been identified by archaeologists with the ruins at Tell Beitin, located north of Jerusalem in the West Bank. Excavations at this site have revealed evidence of settlement dating back to the Bronze Age, and the remains of structures consistent with a significant ancient city. The biblical narrative of Bethel highlights its importance as a center of worship and its role in key events and figures in religious history.