Ya'akov Has a Dream
We can now better understand both the nature of God's opening "hitgalut" to Yaakov at Bet-El and Yaakov's immediate reaction.

As Yaakov prepares to leave Eretz Canaan, God must first confirm Yaakov's "bechira" and inform him that he is indeed the chosen son:

"I am the Lord, the God of Avraham and Yitzchak. The land ["aretz"] upon which you are lying I have given to you and your offspring ["zera"]... and through you all the nations of the earth shall be blessed." (28:13-14)
Note the use of the key words - "zera" (offspring) and "aretz" (the Land). These are typical of God's earlier blessings of "bechira" to Avraham and Yitzchak (see 12:7, 13:15, 15:18, 17:8, & 26:3), and thus confirm Yaakov's "bechira."

[The significance of additional key phrases (from earlier blessings) in this hitgalut, such as "afar ha'aretz," are discussed in Part II of this week's shiur.]

While the first two psukim of this "hitgalut" sound very familiar, the third and final pasuk introduces an entirely new element:

"And behold, I will be with you, and I will protect you wherever you go and bring you back to this Land..." (28:15)
This 'extra' promise clearly relates to our earlier discussion of Yaakov's questionable situation. God must allay his fears by assuring him that even though he must now leave Eretz Canaan, He will remain with him, take care of him, and ultimately bring him back - because he indeed is the 'chosen son.'

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