He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 19. Bethel. This name signifies the house of God. Challoner.—Bethel was the name which Jacob gave to the place; and the town, which was built after his return, was called by the same name. Hence those famous animated stones or idols, received their title (Bethules, Eus. præp. i. 10.) being consecrated to Saturn, the Sun, and so forth Till the days of Mahomet, the Arabs adored a rough stone, taken from the temple of Mecca, which they pretended was built by Abraham. Chardin.—Luza, so called from the number of nut or almond trees. Here the golden calf was afterwards set up, on the confines of the tribes of Benjamin and of Ephraim, ( Calmet.) the southern limits of the kingdom of Jeroboam. Bible.