Commentary for Genesis 31:13

האל בית אל is the same as אל בית אל the ה of האל being redundant. It is customary for Scripture to speak thus, e. g. (Numbers 34:2) “When ye come into the land of Canaan הארץ כנען (instead of ארץ כנען).

I AM THE G-D OF BETH-EL. Jacob related to his wives all that G-d’s angel had told him in the dream, all this serving to persuade them to go with him. However, what he told did not consist of one dream. The statement, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the he-goats¹⁸⁰Verse 12 here. was made to him when he served Laban for his flock, at the time the flock conceived¹⁸⁴Verse 10 here. in one of the first years.¹⁸⁵One of the first of the six years he served for the sheep. See further, 31:41. The statement, I am the G-d of Beth-el was made to him after that, at the time of the journey, for after He said to him, Now arise, get thee out from this land,¹⁸⁶In Verse 13 here. he no longer remained in Haran to further tend Laban’s flocks so that the he-goats would mount the flocks and the flocks would give birth to speckled and spotted. But on the morrow of the dream, he sent for Rachel and Leah and told them his dream, and they left Haran.
I am ‘ha’e-il’ (the G-d) of Beth-el. The meaning thereof is, as Rashi explained it, that the letter hei in ha’e-il is redundant and is the same as if it were written: “I am e-il Beth-el (the G-d of Beth-el).” Similarly, To ‘ha’aretz’ (the land) of Canaan;¹⁸⁷Numbers 34:2. [the hei is redundant and is the same as if it were written: “to eretz Canaan (the land of Canaan).”] Grammarians¹⁸⁸Ibn Ezra and R’dak. adjusted it by saying that it is as if it were written, “I am the G-d, who is the G-d of Beth-el.” Similarly, And the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,¹⁸⁹Above, 2:9. [which is as if it said: “and the tree of the knowledge, namely the knowledge of good and evil”]; the cords of gold,¹⁹⁰Numbers 39:17. [which is as if it said, “the cords, which are cords of gold]. And the angel here speaks in the name of He Who sent him, [therefore, he speaks in the first person and says, “I am, etc.”] ….

אשר משחת, in order to sanctify it; so far you have not offered a sacrifice on it that would discharge your vow.