"And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. "In accordance with the custom of commemorating important events, Jacob set up a memorial of God's mercy, that whenever he should pass that way he might tarry at this sacred spot to worship the Lord. And he called the place Bethel, or the "house of God." With deep gratitude he repeated the promise that God's presence would be with him; and then he made the solemn vow, "If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee."

Tidligt næste morgen tog Jakob den sten, han havde brugt som hovedgærde, rejste den som en stenstøtte og gød olie over den. Det var skik at mindes vigtige begivenheder, og i overensstemmelse hermed rejste Jakob et mindesmærke om Guds nåde, så at han kunne standse på dette hellige sted og tilbede Gud, når som helst han kom denne vej.