John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 28:19
And he called the name of that place Bethel ,.... The house of God, which he took this place to be: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first ; which signifies an almond or hazel nut, Genesis 30:37 ; perhaps from the number of this sort of trees that grew there, under which Jacob might lay himself down, which was probably in the field of Luz; and being at night, he might not know there was a city so near, until the morning. Though Josephus F18 Antiqu. l. 1. c. 19.... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 28:16-22
God manifested himself and his favour to Jacob when he was asleep and purely passive; for the spirit, like the wind, blows when and where he listeth, and God's grace, like the dew, tarrieth not for the sons of men, Mic. 5:7. But Jacob applied himself to the improvement of the visit God had made him when he was awake; and we may well think he awaked, as the prophet did (Jer. 31:26), and behold his sleep was sweet to him. Here is much of Jacob's devotion on this occasion. I. He expressed a great... read more