Bethel

Jacob's ladder was a vision he received while sleeping at Bethel. He saw a stairway or ladder reaching from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it. God stood above it and renewed the promises given to Abraham. Jacob recognized this as a gateway to heaven and named the place Bethel, meaning 'House of God.'

After the kingdom divided, Jeroboam feared that if his people went to Jerusalem to worship, they would eventually return their allegiance to the house of David. He set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan, telling the people these were the gods who brought them out of Egypt. This was a political decision that led Israel into sin.