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創世記 23

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1 撒拉享壽一百二十七歲，這是撒拉一生的歲數。

2 撒拉死在迦南地的基列亞巴，就是希伯崙。亞伯拉罕為他哀慟哭號。

3 後來亞伯拉罕從死人面前起來，對赫人說：

4 我在你們中間是外人，是寄居的。求你們在這裡給我一塊地，我好埋葬我的死人，使他不在我眼前。

5 赫人回答亞伯拉罕說：

6 我主請聽。你在我們中間是一位尊大的王子，只管在我們最好的墳地裡埋葬你的死人；我們沒有一人不容你在他的墳地裡埋葬你的死人。

7 亞伯拉罕就起來，向那地的赫人下拜，

8 對他們說：你們若有意叫我埋葬我的死人，使他不在我眼前，就請聽我的話，為我求瑣轄的兒子以弗崙，

9 把田頭上那麥比拉洞給我；他可以按著足價賣給我，作我在你們中間的墳地。

10 當時以弗崙正坐在赫人中間。於是，赫人以弗崙在城門出入的赫人面前對亞伯拉罕說：

11 不然，我主請聽。我送給你這塊田，連田間的洞也送給你，在我同族的人面前都給你，可以埋葬你的死人。

12 亞伯拉罕就在那地的人民面前下拜，

13 在他們面前對以弗崙說：你若應允，請聽我的話。我要把田價給你，求你收下，我就在那裡埋葬我的死人。

14 以弗崙回答亞伯拉罕說：

15 我主請聽。值四百舍客勒銀子的一塊田，在你我中間還算甚麼呢？只管埋葬你的死人罷！

16 亞伯拉罕聽從了以弗崙，照著他在赫人面前所說的話，把買賣通用的銀子平了四百舍客勒給以弗崙。

17 於是，麥比拉、幔利前、以弗崙的那塊田和其中的洞，並田間四圍的樹木，

18 都定準歸與亞伯拉罕，乃是他在赫人面前並城門出入的人面前買妥的。

19 此後，亞伯拉罕把他妻子撒拉埋葬在迦南地幔利前的麥比拉田間的洞裡。〈幔利就是希伯崙〉。

20 從此，那塊田和田間的洞就藉著赫人定準歸與亞伯拉罕作墳地。

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #2943

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2943. Of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying. That this signifies as to the doctrinal things through which there is faith, is evident from the signification of “gate,” as being entrance, thus that which introduces (in like manner as “door,” see n. 2145, 2152, 2356, 2385); and from the signification of “city,” as being the truth of faith (see n. 402, 2268, 2449, 2451, 2712). Cities in the Ancient Church were not like the cities of later times and of the present day, that is, assemblages and gatherings of people; but they were the dwelling together of separate families. The family of one parent constituted a city, as for instance the city of Nahor (to which Abraham’s servant came when he was to betroth Rebekah to Isaac, Genesis 24:10) was Nahor’s family which was there; and Shalem, the city of Shechem (to which Jacob came when he journeyed from Paddan-aram, Genesis 33:18; 34 (Genesis 34:2) (Genesis 34:4) (Genesis 34:6) (Genesis 34:8) (Genesis 34:11) (Genesis 34:13) (Genesis 34:18) (Genesis 34:20) (Genesis 34:24) (Genesis 34:26)) was the family of Hamor and Shechem, which was there; and so with the other cities of that time.

[2] And as they had learned from the most ancient people that nations and families represented the heavenly societies, and thus the things of love and charity (n. 655, 1159), so when a “city” is mentioned instead of a family, and “people” instead of nation, truth is signified which is of faith. Hence also the “city of God” and the “holy city,” in the genuine sense signify faith in the Lord; and as a walled town or city signified faith, the “gate” of the city signified doctrinal things, because these introduce to faith. This in the representative Jewish Church was also signified by the judges and the elders sitting in the gate of the city and judging there; as is plain from the historical parts of the Word; and also in Zechariah:

These are the words that ye shall do: Speak ye every man the truth with his companion, judge truth and the judgment of peace in your gates (Zech. 8:16).

Also in Amos:

Hate the evil and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate (Amos 5:15).

(That a “gate” also signifies the way of access to the rational mind, and that this mind is compared to a city, may be seen above, n. 2851)

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

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