Genesis 12:8 Sedra Lech-Lecha
Abram builds an altar to the Eternal between Beth El on the west and Ai on the east, and there he invokes the Eternal by Name.
Genesis 13:1-4 Sedra Lech-Lecha
When Abram and his wife return from Egypt, through the Negev, he returns to Beth El and again there invokes the Eternal by name.
Genesis 28:10-22 Sedra Vayetze
Jacob, leaving his parents and brother in Beersheba for his mother’s family in Charan, encounters “the place” for the night. He makes of its stones a pillow for his head and dreams of a ladder or stairway from the ground to heaven with angels of God ascending and descending on it, the Eternal standing upon it. “I am the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac…”: He promises the Land upon which Jacob lies to him and to his offspring. His offspring shall become numerous: “You shall spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south.” “All the families of the earth shall be blessed through you and your offspring.” “I shall protect you and bring you back to this ground, never failing to carry out what I have promised you.”
Awaking from his sleep, Jacob relates his new knowledge of the presence of the Eternal in this “awesome” place, “the abode of God, the gate of heaven.” In the morning he sets up the stone he used for a pillow as a pillar (matzevah) and pours oil on top of it. He names the place, formerly called Luz, Beth El, “House of God.”
He vows that if God protects him on his journey and provides him with food, raiment and a safe return to his father’s house, “the Eternal shall be my God,” the stone pillar shall be the abode of God, “and of all that You give me, I shall set aside a tenth (tithe) for You.
Genesis 35:1-15 Sedra Vayishlach
Jacob is returning to Canaan from his mother’s family in Paddan-aram. Following the incident of Shechem (Genesis 34:1-31), in accordance with God’s command Jacob brings his household up to Beth El for protection and to “build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you were fleeing from Esau your brother.” At Jacob’s instruction they hand over to him their foreign gods and earrings, which he buries under the terebinth near Shechem, and he commands them: “Purify yourselves and change your clothes.” Meanwhile, a terror from God prevents the surrounding cities from pursuing the children of Jacob.
When they arrive in Luz, viz. Beth El, in the Land of Canaan, Jacob builds an altar and names the place “God of Beth El,” as God appeared to him there when he was fleeing from his brother. Deborah, Rebecca’s nurse, dies and is buried nearby.
Now God appears to Jacob again. He announces the change of Jacob’s name to Israel (cf. Genesis 32:23-33) and promises him many descendants, “an assembly of nations,” including “kings,” “and the Land which I have given to Abraham and to Isaac, I give to you and to your offspring after you…”. There, where God had spoken to him, Jacob sets up a pillar (matzevah) of stone; he offers a libation over it and pours oil upon it, naming that place Beth El.
Joshua 12:9-16
Beth El is one of many cities conquered in the Land, whose kings were defeated, by Joshua and the Children of Israel.
Judges 20:18,26-28; 21:2-4
Beth El is the place where the Children of Israel inquire of God during their war with the tribe of Benjamin. There they wept and remained before the Eternal, fasting throughout the day until evening, bringing burnt offerings and peace offerings. “The Ark of the Covenant of God was there in those days,” and Pinchas son of Elazar son of Aaron was serving as Kohen.
I Kings 12:25-33
Jeroboam, having led Israel in rebellion against Rehoboam, son of Solomon, king of Judah, installs golden calves at Beth El and at Dan in order to induce the people to worship at their altars instead of in Jerusalem. “Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt” (I Kings 12:28; cf. Exodus 32:4)!
Hosea 10:14-15
“The din of war shall arise against your own people, and all of your fortresses shall be torn down, mothers dashed into pieces with their children; thus shall it be for you, O Beth El, for your most evil of ways!”
Amos 3:14; 4:4-5; 5:4-6
“On the day that I punish Israel for its sins, I will wreak punishment upon the altars of Beth El; the horns of the altar shall be hewn down and shall fall to the ground!”
“Come to Beth El and transgress…bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes at the end of three days; burn a thanksgiving offering from leavened bread, and publicize openly freewill offerings—for that is what you long to do, Children of Israel, declares My Lord God!”
II Kings 17:24-34
Following the Assyrian conquest of the rebellious tribes in Samaria, the king of Assyria transfers to Samaria people from other parts of his empire. These immigrants are attacked by lions incited by the Eternal for their ignorance of the law of the God of the Land. So the king orders that one of the Kohanim whom He had exiled from Samaria return and teach them the law. The Kohen settles in Beth El. His effort proves only partially effective.
Sedra Summary 