Arcana Coelestia #3323
3323. Verses 31-33. And Jacob said, Sell me as this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold I am going to die, and for what is this birthright to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me as this day; and he sware unto him, and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. “And Jacob said,” signifies the doctrine of truth; “sell me as this day thy birthright,” signifies that as to time the doctrine of truth was apparently prior; “and Esau said, Behold I am going to die,” signifies that he would afterwards rise again; “and for what is this birthright to me,” signifies that in this case there would be no need of priority; “and Jacob said,” signifies the doctrine of truth; “swear to me as this day, and he swore unto him” signifies confirmation; “and he sold his birthright unto Jacob,” signifies that in the meantime priority was granted.
Numbers 20:14-22
14
Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: "Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the travail that has happened to us:
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how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers:
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and when we cried to Yahweh, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt: and behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of your border.
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"Please let us pass through your land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go along the king's highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border."
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Edom said to him, "You shall not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against you."
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The children of Israel said to him, "We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of your water, I and my livestock, then will I give its price: let me only, without [doing] anything [else], pass through on my feet."
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He said, "You shall not pass through." Edom came out against him with many people, and with a strong hand.
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Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border, so Israel turned away from him.
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They traveled from Kadesh: and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.
