Midrash su Genesi 28:18

(Gen. 28:11, cont.:) THEN HE TOOK SOME¹⁴Traditional translations assume that Jacob TOOK ONE OF THE STONES, but the midrash assumes that there were more. OF THE STONES OF THE PLACE, < SET THEM UNDER HIS HEAD, AND LAY DOWN IN THAT PLACE >.¹⁵See Gen. R. 68:11. He thought in his heart: My grandfather Abraham sired a righteous < son > and a wicked < son > from two women. Isaac was righteous, and Ishmael was wicked. Then Daddy Isaac sired a righteous < son > and a wicked < son > from one woman. As for me, since I am to take four wives, how many wicked < sons > will there be from me? The Holy One said to him: Heaven forbid! (According to Cant. 4:7) YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL ALL OVER, MY BELOVED; THERE IS NO BLEMISH IN YOU. When he arose in the morning, he found that all of the stones were one stone. He was glad that his bed was whole, as stated (in Gen. 28:18): THEN JACOB AROSE EARLY IN THE MORNING, <TOOK THE STONE WHICH HE HAD PUT UNDER HIS HEAD, SET IT UP AS A PILLAR >…. The Holy One said to him: By your life, just as all these stones have become one, so shall all of your sons be righteous. Thus it is stated (in Job 5:23): FOR YOU SHALL HAVE A COVENANT WITH THE STONES OF THE FIELD, AND THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD SHALL BE AT PEACE WITH YOU.

(Zech. 4:7, cont.:) FOR HE SHALL BRING FORTH THE CORNERSTONE. This is the stone of Jacob, about which it is stated (in Gen. 28:18): THEN JACOB AROSE EARLY IN THE MORNING, TOOK THE STONE < WHICH HE HAD PUT UNDER HIS HEAD, SET IT UP AS A PILLAR >…. And so Daniel has stated (in Dan. 2:34): YOU LOOKED ON UNTIL A STONE WAS CUT OUT WITH[OUT] HANDS < AND SMOTE THE IMAGE >…. It is also written (in vs. 35): THEN < THE IRON, THE CLAY, THE BRASS, THE SILVER, AND THE GOLD > WERE BROKEN IN PIECES (INTO ONE < MASS >) [TOGETHER]… [AND THE STONE WHICH SMOTE THE IMAGE BECAME A GREAT MOUNTAIN]. Now what is [A GREAT] MOUNTAIN? (Zech. 4:7): WHO ARE YOU, O GREAT MOUNTAIN? And from where does it come? By way of the mountains, as stated (in Is. 52:7): HOW BEAUTIFUL UPON THE MOUNTAINS ARE THE FEET OF THE ONE BRINGING GOOD TIDINGS. In that hour Israel shall look and say (with Ps. 121:1f.): I WILL LIFT UP EYES MY UNTO THE MOUNTAINS. < FROM WHERE WILL MY HELP COME? > MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD….

And Jacob returned to gather the stones, and he found them all (turned into) one stone, and he set || it up for a pillar in the midst of the place, and oil descended for him from heaven, and he poured it thereon, as it is said, "And he poured oil upon the top of it" (Gen. 28:18). What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He placed (thereon) His right foot, and sank the stone to the bottom of the depths, and He made it the keystone of the earth, just like a man who sets a keystone in an arch; therefore it is called the foundation stone, for there is the navel of the earth, and therefrom was all the earth evolved, and upon it the Sanctuary of God stands, as it is said, "And this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house" (Gen. 28:22).

... Another version. The Rabbis said the minimum number that the word ‘stones’ can refer to is two, and Yaakov woke up in the morning and found that they were one. He was in great fear and said ‘the house of the Holy One is in this place and I was not conscious of His Presence’ as it says “And he was afraid and said, How dreadful is this place! This is no other than the house of Gd…” (Bereshit 28:17) From here they said that anyone who prays in Jerusalem is as if they pray before the Throne of Glory, because the gate of heaven is there; and an open door to hear prayer, as it says “…and this is the gate of heaven. (ibid.) Yaakov went back to gather the stones and he found that they were one stone. Yaakov took the stone and placed it as a monument in the midst of the place and oil descended from heaven for him and he pour it out on the stone, as it says “…and he poured oil on top of it.” (Bereshit 28:18) What did the Holy One do? He took its right foot, sank it to the deepest depths and made it a keystone for the earth, like a man who places a keystone in an arch. Therefore it is called foundation stone, because there is the navel of the world and from there the world was opened out. And upon it is the palace of Gd, as it says “And this stone, which I have placed as a monument, shall be a house of God…” (Bereshit 28:22) And Yaakov fell to the ground before the foundation stone, praying before the Holy One, and said ‘Master of the World! If you bring me back to this place in peace, then I will sacrifice before you whole offerings and thanksgiving offerings!’ as it says, “And Jacob uttered a vow, saying…” (Bereshit 28:20) He vowed and he fulfilled his vow. From there he picked up his feet (to go) and there he left the well, because the well had been going before him, and in the blink of an eye came to Haran as it says, [“Now Jacob lifted his feet…” (Bereshit 29:10)] “And Jacob left Be’er Sheva, and he went to Haran.” (Bereshit 28:10) About him the tradition says, “When you walk, your step will not be constrained, and if you run, you will not stumble.” (Mishle 4:12) R’ Abahu said in the name of R’ Yochanan – the angels carried him as it says, “On [their] hands they will bear you…” (Tehillim 91:12) Ya’akov’s steps were not constrained and his strength did not falter and like a mighty man he rolled back the stone from off of the mouth of the well. Then the well rose up and overflowed and the shepherds were astounded because all together they were unable to roll off the stone and he did it alone as it says, “…that Jacob drew near and rolled the rock off…” (Bereshit 29:10)