Name
The name literally means "House of G-d" where the word "El" specifically relates to the revelation of "G-d's" force in the world. In the Biblical narrative, Yaakov renames a place called "Luz" calling it "Beit El" in response to a powerful dream or revelation he had while sleeping nearby. Later sources recognize Luz as a distinctly separate geographic location which co-existed with Beit El.1 A 17th century visitor to the Land of Israel attributes the name of the Arab village (today city) of Ramallah as being derived from Beit El. In his time the Arabs who lived in Ramallah called it Bet'allah (From the Hebrew name Beit El).2
Location
Ancient scholars place the Biblical Beit El in or around the current Arab village of Beitin (Arabic: بيتين) about fifteen kilometers north of Jerusalem.1 Map is section of Relando map of 1695.2
Events
The first recorded mention of Beit El is found in the Biblical narrative in the stories relating Yaakov's journey to Haran and his return many years later. 3
The next mention of Beit El in the Bible pertains to the split between the kingdom of Judah and Israel. It was there that Yeroboam established the cult of the Golden Calves4, making Beit El an important religious-cultural center until its destruction by Yosiah in (c.640-609 BC).5 Beit El is also close to the village of Gofna which became the heart of the area the Maccabean rebels took refuse from in the first stages of their revolt.
