This is the famous dream: “Jacob’s Ladder.”  As he was on the way to his Uncle Laban’s place, he spent the night.  He had a dream in which he saw a ladder with divine messengers (i.e. angels) moving up and down the ladder.  God then spoke, reiterating the promise of numerous descendants and the gift of the land.  Jacob commemorated the occasion by converting a stone which he had used as a pillow into a pillar, upon which he poured oil.  He also responded to the dream by acknowledging God’s presence.  He called the place “the house of God” (=Bethel).  He also made a vow to God.  That was the good news.  The bad news was that he prefaced the vow with a disturbing “if.”<br /><br />