Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I didn’t know it.”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 16. Knew it not. Jacob was not ignorant that God fills all places. But he thought that he would not manifest himself thus in a land given to idolatry. He begins to suspect that the place had been formerly consecrated to the worship of the true God, ( Calmet.) as it probably had by Abraham, who dwelt near Bethel, (Calmet. 12:8,) and built an altar on Mount Moria, 22:14. Interpreters are not agreed on which of these places Jacob spent the night. Saint Augustine q. 83, supposes it was on the latter, “where God appointed the tabernacle to remain.” The Chaldee paraphrases it very well in this sense, verse 17, “How terrible is this place! It is not an ordinary place, but a place beloved by God, and over against this place is the door of heaven.” Bible.