4558. And he built there an altar. That this signifies by sanctification, is evident from the signification of an “altar,” as being the principal representative of the Lord, and thence the holy of worship (see n. 4541), and when predicated of the Lord, His Divine Human, and the Holy which proceeds therefrom (n. 2811). For that which in the church is the principal representative of the Lord, is also in the supreme sense the Lord Himself as to His Divine Human; for that which represents it is, in this sense, the Human Itself. That the natural was sanctified, is signified by his “building there” (that is, in Bethel) an “altar;” for by “Bethel” is signified the Divine natural (see just above, n. 4556).

4556. And Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, signifies the natural in its former state, and “this is Bethel” signifies the Divine natural, as is evident from the signification of “Luz” as being the natural in its former state, or that very natural which was human. That this was made Divine is signified by, “this is Bethel.” (That “Bethel” is the Divine natural may be seen above, n. 4089, 4539.) So also in other places in the Word where “Bethel” is named it is likewise said, “Luz, this is Bethel,” and “Bethel, beforetime Luz,” as in Joshua:

The boundary of the lot of the sons of Benjamin between the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph went forth to Luz, to the side of Luz southward, this is Bethel (Josh. 18:11, 13).

And in the book of Judges:

The house of Joseph went up to Bethel, and spied out Bethel; and the name of the city beforetime was Luz (Judg. 1:22-23).