Genesis 28 Summary

Isaac blesses Jacob and charges him not to marry a Canaanite woman, sending him to Padan-aram to find a wife from among the daughters of Laban, his mother's brother; he also conveys to Jacob the blessing of Abraham, including the promise of the land and a multitude of descendants. Observing this, Esau attempts to please his father by taking an additional wife, Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael. While journeying toward Haran, Jacob stops for the night and dreams of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending, and the LORD standing above it, reaffirming to Jacob the Abrahamic covenant of land, innumerable offspring, and a blessing to all families of the earth. Upon waking, Jacob consecrates the stone he had used as a pillow, erects it as a pillar, names the place Beth-el, and makes a vow to the LORD, pledging that if God keeps him and brings him home safely, the LORD will be his God and he will give a tenth of all he receives.