Arcana Coelestia # 6551
6551. 'Facing Mamre' means nature and extent. This is clear from the meaning of 'Mamre' as the nature and extent of what it is used in connection with, dealt with in 2970, 4613, 6456. Something special is meant when it is said that Abraham had bought the cave of the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, from Ephron the Hittite, as may be recognized from the fact that these details are repeated so often, as in Genesis 23,
The field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah - which was before Mamre - was made over. . . Verse 17.
In addition to this,
After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife at the cave of the field of Machpelah facing Mamre. Verse 19.
And yet again,
The field and the cave which was in it were made over to Abraham as a possession for a grave, from the sons of Heth. Verse 20.
Also in Genesis 25,
They buried Abraham at the cave of Machpelah, at the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which faced Mamre. The field which Abraham bought from the sons of Heth . . . Verses 9, 10.
In Genesis 49,
Bury me in the cave which is in the field of Machpelah, which faces Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as a possession for a grave. The buying of the field and the cave that was in it was from the sons of Heth. Verses Genesis 49:30-32.
And in the present chapter,
They buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham had bought with the field, as a possession for a grave, from Ephron the Hittite - facing Mamre. Something special is meant by this frequent repetition involving practically the same words, for the following reason: 'Abraham', 'Isaac', and 'Jacob' represent the Lord; 'the burial of them' represents resurrection and restoration to life, 'the field of the cave of Machpelah' the beginning of regeneration, 'Ephron the Hittite' those who receive the good of faith and allow themselves to be regenerated, and 'the sons of Heth' a spiritual Church. Thus because these words in a brief way mean the establishment of a spiritual Church, the same details are repeated so many times.
Job 2
1
And the day is, that sons of God come in to station themselves by Jehovah, and there doth come also the Adversary in their midst to station himself by Jehovah.
2
And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, `Whence camest thou?' And the Adversary answereth Jehovah and saith, `From going to and fro in the land, and from walking up and down in it.'
3
And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, `Hast thou set thy heart unto My servant Job because there is none like him in the land, a man perfect and upright, fearing God and turning aside from evil? and still he is keeping hold on his integrity, and thou dost move Me against him to swallow him up for nought!'
4
And the Adversary answereth Jehovah and saith, `A skin for a skin, and all that a man hath he doth give for his life.
5
Yet, put forth, I pray Thee, Thy hand, and strike unto his bone and unto his flesh -- if not: unto Thy face he doth bless Thee!'
6
And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, `Lo, he [is] in thy hand; only his life take care of.'
7
And the Adversary goeth forth from the presence of Jehovah, and smiteth Job with a sore ulcer from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
8
And he taketh to him a potsherd to scrape himself with it, and he is sitting in the midst of the ashes.
9
And his wife saith to him, `Still thou art keeping hold on thine integrity: bless God and die.'
10
And he saith unto her, `As one of the foolish women speaketh, thou speakest; yea, the good we receive from God, and the evil we do not receive.' In all this Job hath not sinned with his lips.
11
And three of the friends of Job hear of all this evil that hath come upon him, and they come in each from his place -- Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite -- and they are met together to come in to bemoan him, and to comfort him;
12
and they lift up their eyes from afar and have not discerned him, and they lift up their voice and weep, and rend each his robe, and sprinkle dust on their heads -- heavenward.
13
And they sit with him on the earth seven days and seven nights, and there is none speaking unto him a word when they have seen that the pain hath been very great.
