2006-06-17 01:22:01 · 4 answers · asked by Yvette J 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
"Jacob's ladder" is about the God meeting with man, and how that happens... by GOD's work, not man's.
Most commentators believe Jacob's "ladder" is better translated "stairway".
This structure echoes the Babylonian ziggurats -- sort of 'man-made mountains' with steps leading up to a temple where people were supposed to be able to meet with the gods (that is, where heaven & earth meet) -- and specifically the "Tower of Babylon"of Genesis 11 (traditionally "Babel", but this Hebrew word is the equivalent of "Babylon" and is translated that way everywhere else it is used).
It seems there is a strong contrast being made with human attempts to take control and reach up to heaven (and 'make a name for themselves') as seen in the building of Babylon and its tower (ziggurat-temple). Here we find God HIMSELF taking the initiative and opening the way, sending his angels and coming down to meet with man and to bless him. It is NOT man reaching up to heaven --nothing about Jacob 'climbing the ladder'-- but heaven reaching DOWN. (Something similar happens on Jacob's return trip, where he wrestles with "the angel of the LORD" at Peniel and receives a blessing and new name.)
The setting is also significant in that Jacob is here an exile fleeing for his life. In fact, God specifically comes to promise that he will prosper Jacob in the land of his wandering and bring him home safely. Note that Jacob names the place of this vision "Bethel", meaning "HOUSE of God." This underlines the connection and contrast with Babel.
This same idea of God himself initiating, 'coming down' and bringing people to himself as well as establishing his OWN temple where HE chooses and on his own terms --as well as God's leading and making promises to wandering "exiles" far from home -- runs through the later story of the Exodus (and beyond that to the story of the Babylonian Exile).
The image is picked up by Jesus to speak of his OWN work -- he portrays himself as the 'stairway' on which angels descend and ascend to heaven (John 1)-- that is, HE is the way by which God reaches down to humanity. (In a related theme, in the next chapter Jesus refers to his own body as "this TEMPLE".)
2006-06-21 04:43:02 · answer #1 · answered by bruhaha 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ladder is a picture of Jesus the bridge between man and heaven
2006-06-17 01:26:43 · answer #2 · answered by Joe F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A portal to heaven.
2006-06-17 01:26:02 · answer #3 · answered by 4thwatch 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that was a strange movie
2006-06-17 01:26:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋