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Postanak 25

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1 Abraham je sebi uzeo još jednu ženu; zvala se Ketura.

2 Ona mu je rodila Zimrana, Jokšana, Medana, Midjana, Jišbaka i Šuaha.

3 A od Jokšana rodili se Šeba i Dedan. Dedanovi su potomci: Ašurci, Letušci i Leumci.

4 Sinovi su Midjanovi: Efa, Efer, Hanok, Abida i Eldaa. Sve su to potomci Keturini.

5 Abraham prenese sav svoj imutak na Izaka;

6 a sinovima od svojih suložnica dade Abraham samo darove i još ih za svoga života razašalje po istoku - daleko od svog sina Izaka - u Istočni kraj.

7 Ovo je duljina Abrahamova života što ga je proživio: stotinu sedamdeset i pet godina.

8 Zatim Abraham preminu, umrije u sretnoj dobi - star i pun godina - te bi pridružen svojim precima.

9 Njegovi sinovi, Izak i Jišmael, sahrane ga u spilji Makpeli, na poljani Efrona, sina Hetita Sohara, nasuprot Mamri:

10 to je poljana što ju je Abraham kupio od Hetovih sinova. Ondje je sahranjen Abraham i njegova žena Sara.

11 Poslije Abrahamove smrti Bog je blagoslivljao njegova sina Izaka. Izak je živio blizu Beer Lahaj Roja.

12 Ovo je povijest Abrahamova sina Jišmaela, koga je Abrahamu rodila Sarina sluškinja, Egipćanka Hagara.

13 A ovo su sinovi Jišmaelovi, svaki po svom imenu i po svom rođenju: Jišmaelov prvenac Nebajot, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,

14 Mišma, Duma, Masa,

15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Nafiš i Kedma.

16 To su Jišmaelovi sinovi i to su njihova imena prema njihovim naseljima i taborištima: dvanaest poglavica od isto toliko plemena.

17 A ovo je duljina Jišmaelova života: stotinu trideset i sedam godina. Zatim izdahnu; umrije i bi pridružen svojim precima.

18 Potomstvo mu se naselilo od Havile do Šura, koji je na istok Egiptu idući prema Ašuru. Nastaniše se nasuprot svojoj braći.

19 Ovo je povijest Abrahamova sina Izaka: Izak se rodio od Abrahama.

20 Izaku je bilo četrdeset godina kad se oženio Rebekom, kćerkom Aramejca Betuela iz Padan Arama, a sestrom Aramejca Labana.

21 Izak se obrati Jahvi za svoju ženu jer je bila nerotkinja. Jahve ga usliša te njegova žena Rebeka zače.

22 No djeca se u njezinoj utrobi tako sudarala te ona uzviknu: "Ako je tako, zašto ću živjeti!" Ode, dakle, da se posavjetuje s Jahvom.

23 I Jahve joj reče: "Dva su svijeta u utrobi tvojoj; Dva će se naroda iz tvog krila odijeliti. Narod će nad narodom gospodovati, stariji će služiti mlađemu."

24 Došlo vrijeme da rodi, kad gle - blizanci u njezinoj utrobi.

25 Pojavi se prvi. Bio je crven; sav runjav kao ogrtač. Stoga mu nadjenuše ime Ezav.

26 Potom se pojavi njegov brat. Rukom se držao Ezavu za petu. Zato mu nadjenuše ime Jakov. Izaku je bilo šezdeset godina kad su oni rođeni.

27 Kad su dječaci odrasli, Ezav postane vješt lovac, čovjek pustare. Jakov je bio čovjek krotak i boravio je u šatorima.

28 Izaku je Ezav bio draži jer je volio divljač, a Rebeka je više voljela Jakova.

29 Jednom Jakov kuhaše jelo. Ezav stigne s polja, gladan.

30 Reče Ezav Jakovu: "Daj mi toga crvenog variva da pojedem jer sam izgladnio." Stoga mu je ime Edom.

31 A Jakov odgovori: "Ustupi mi prije svoje prvorodstvo!"

32 Ezav reče: "Evo me skoro na smrti; što će mi prvorodstvo!"

33 Jakov nastavi: "Prije mi se zakuni!" On mu se zakune, i tako proda Jakovu svoje prvorodstvo.

34 Tada Jakov dade Ezavu kruha i čorbe od sočivice. Jeo je i pio, onda se digao i otišao. Tako Ezav pogazi svoje prvorodstvo.

   

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Arcana Coelestia # 3242

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3242. And the sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. That this signifies the derivations from the third class, can be seen from the representation of Midian, as being those who are in the truth of faith (concerning which below); and as those who are in the truth of faith are “Midian,” it follows that his “sons” are the derivations therefrom. With those who are in the truth of faith the case is this: No one is admitted into the Lord’s kingdom unless he is in the good of faith, for the good of faith is of the life, and the life of faith remains, but not the doctrine of faith, except insofar as it makes one with the life; nevertheless they who are in the truth of faith (that is, who profess faith and call it essential, because they have so learned) and yet are in the good of life (that is, who are Christians in heart and not in profession only), are in the Lord’s spiritual kingdom. For anyone may easily be persuaded that faith is the essential when he has been so taught by his instructors and has imbibed this opinion in his childhood, and because they who are reputed most learned and the heads of the church say so, some of whom are afraid to speak of the good of life because their life condemns them; moreover the things that belong to faith flow in perceptibly, but not so those which belong to charity.

[2] They therefore who are in the truth of faith and yet in the good of life, are they who are called Midian;” and the truths according to which they live are the “sons of Midian;” and as those who are in the truth of faith conjoined with its good are “Midian,” so also in the opposite sense are those who are in falsity from not having the good of life, as can be seen from the following passages.

In Isaiah:

The abundance of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah, all they from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and frankincense, and they shall proclaim the praises of Jehovah (Isaiah 60:6); where the Lord’s spiritual kingdom is treated of. The “dromedaries of Midian and Ephah” denote doctrinal things; doctrinal things of good are “gold;” those of truth are “frankincense;” both are the “praises of Jehovah;” hence also it is manifest what “Ephah” signifies. (That by the “Midianites” who drew Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites, and into Egypt to Potiphar, Genesis 37:28, 36, are signified those who are in the truth of simple good, will be seen, of the Lord’s Divine mercy, in the explication of these verses hereafter.)

[3] That by “Midian” are also signified those who are in falsity because they have not the goods of life, can be seen from what is said concerning Midian in Moses:

The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian, with the rewards of divination in their hand, went to Balaam, and spake to him the words of Balak (Numbers 22:4, 7, etc.).

In a good sense “Moab” denotes those who are in natural good and suffer themselves to be easily led astray; but in the opposite sense, those who adulterate goods (n. 2468). In a good sense “Midian” denotes those who are in the truth of simple good, as before said, and who thus allow themselves to be easily persuaded; in the opposite sense, as here, those who falsify truths. The falsifications are signified by “the rewards of divination in their hand;” and the deeds from these falsities, by their sending to Balaam in hostility to the sons of Israel, who denote the goods and derivative truths of faith.

[4] The like was signified by the whoredoms of the sons of Israel with the women of the Midianites, resulting in a plague, which was stayed by Phinehas thrusting his spear through the Midianitish woman and the man of Israel in the brothel (Numbers 25:6-8); for by whoredoms were represented the falsifications of truth (n. 2466, 2729). And because falsifications of truth are what in the internal sense are signified by whoredoms, therefore by command twelve thousand of the sons of Israel smote the Midianites, slew their kings, and every male, and the women whom they had led captive that had known a man, and divided the spoil among themselves (Numbers 25:16-17; 31:1-54 the end). The reason why there were twelve thousand, was that “twelve” signified all things of faith (n. 577, 2089, 2129, 2130), by which falsities are destroyed; the “kings” whom they killed are falsities, and so is “every male;” the “women that had known a man” are the affections of falsity; the “spoil” (as gold, silver, cattle) are the truths that were falsified; from all which it is evident that each and all of the things there mentioned are representative of the punishment and destruction of what is false by means of truths.

[5] It is similar in regard to what is said of the Midianites in the book of Judges, namely, that the sons of Israel, because they did evil in the eyes of Jehovah, were given into the hand of Midian seven years; and that the sons of Israel, by reason of Midian, made for themselves caves in the mountains, and also dens, and fortified places; and when Israel had sown, that Midian and Amalek and the sons of the east came up and ravaged the produce of their land; and afterwards that they were delivered by Gideon with three hundred men who lapped water with the tongue like a dog, and that those were sent home who bowed upon the knees and drank, besides other particulars (chapters 6, 7, 8). Here also the things mentioned each and all are representative of the falsification of truth, and of punishment on this account, even to their being destroyed by such things as are signified by lapping water with the tongue like a dog; but what each particular signifies in the internal sense it would be too tedious to unfold here; yet of the Lord’s Divine mercy it shall be told in its place.

In Habakkuk:

He beheld, and dispersed the nations; and the eternal mountains 1 were scattered, the everlasting hills did bow. I saw the tents of Cushan under Aven, the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble (Hab. 3:6-7); where the advent of the Lord is treated of. The “tents of Cushan” denote a religiosity from evil; the “curtains of the land of Midian,” one from falsity.

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. Literally, “the mountains of time.”

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for the permission to use this translation.

Bible

 

Judges 8

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1 The men of Ephraim said to him, "Why have you treated us this way, that you didn't call us, when you went to fight with Midian?" They rebuked him sharply.

2 He said to them, "What have I now done in comparison with you? Isn't the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?

3 God has delivered into your hand the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb! What was I able to do in comparison with you?" Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.

4 Gideon came to the Jordan, [and] passed over, he, and the three hundred men who were with him, faint, yet pursuing.

5 He said to the men of Succoth, "Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian."

6 The princes of Succoth said, "Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your army?"

7 Gideon said, "Therefore when Yahweh has delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers."

8 He went up there to Penuel, and spoke to them in the same way; and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.

9 He spoke also to the men of Penuel, saying, "When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower."

10 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their armies with them, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the army of the children of the east; for there fell one hundred twenty thousand men who drew sword.

11 Gideon went up by the way of those who lived in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and struck the army; for the army was secure.

12 Zebah and Zalmunna fled; and he pursued after them; and he took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and confused all the army.

13 Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle from the ascent of Heres.

14 He caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he described for him the princes of Succoth, and its elders, seventy-seven men.

15 He came to the men of Succoth, and said, "See Zebah and Zalmunna, concerning whom you taunted me, saying, 'Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand, that we should give bread to your men who are weary?'"

16 He took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.

17 He broke down the tower of Penuel, and killed the men of the city.

18 Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, "What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?" They answered, "They were like you. Each one resembled the children of a king."

19 He said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As Yahweh lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you."

20 He said to Jether his firstborn, "Get up, and kill them!" But the youth didn't draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was yet a youth.

21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, "Rise and fall on us; for as the man is, so is his strength." Gideon arose, and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescents that were on their camels' necks.

22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us, both you, and your son, and your son's son also; for you have saved us out of the hand of Midian."

23 Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you. Yahweh shall rule over you."

24 Gideon said to them, "I would make a request of you, that you would give me every man the earrings of his spoil." (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

25 They answered, "We will willingly give them." They spread a garment, and every man threw the earrings of his spoil into it.

26 The weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand and seven hundred [shekels] of gold, besides the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple clothing that was on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels' necks.

27 Gideon made an ephod of it, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel played the prostitute after it there; and it became a snare to Gideon, and to his house.

28 So Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, and they lifted up their heads no more. The land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.

29 Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house.

30 Gideon had seventy sons conceived from his body; for he had many wives.

31 His concubine who was in Shechem, she also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.

32 Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33 It happened, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and played the prostitute after the Baals, and made Baal Berith their god.

34 The children of Israel didn't remember Yahweh their God, who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side;

35 neither did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, [who is] Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shown to Israel.