Genesis 28:11

And he lighted i.e. he by chance reached, like our colloquial "hit upon." The Divine purpose of the revelation made to Jacob is contrasted in this word with the fortuitousness of Jacob's action.

a certain place Heb. the place. For the special significance of "place," with the possible meaning of "sacred spot," see note on Genesis 12:6. The scene of this story is afterwards (Genesis 28:19) identified as Bethel: and it is natural to assume that the famous story of the Theophany to Jacob was preserved and honoured at the shrine of Bethel.

put it under his head Jacob makes a pillow of the stone: his action in so doing, though it may sound strange to English readers, can be illustrated by the ordinary experience of those who are acquainted with Arab life and Oriental travel.