The Bible

 

Postanak 22

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1 Poslije tih događaja Bog stavi Abrahama na kušnju. Zovnu ga: "Abrahame!" On odgovori: "Evo me!"

2 Bog nastavi: "Uzmi svoga sina, jedinca svoga Izaka koga ljubiš, i pođi u krajinu Moriju pa ga ondje prinesi kao žrtvu paljenicu na brdu koje ću ti pokazati."

3 Ujutro Abraham podrani, osamari magarca, sa sobom povede dvojicu svojih slugu i svog sina Izaka, pošto je prije nacijepao drva za žrtvu paljenicu, i uputi se na mjesto koje mu je Bog označio.

4 Treći dan Abraham podigne oči i opazi mjesto izdaleka.

5 Abraham onda reče slugama: "Vi ostanite ovdje uz magarca, a ja i dječak odosmo gore da se poklonimo, pa ćemo se vratiti k vama".

6 Abraham uzme drva za žrtvu paljenicu, stavi ih na sina Izaka, a u svoju ruku uzme kremen i nož. Tako pođu obojica zajedno.

7 Onda Izak reče svome ocu Abrahamu: "Oče!" "Evo me, sine!" - javi se on. "Evo kremena i drva," opet će sin, "ali gdje je janje za žrtvu paljenicu?"

8 "Bog će već providjeti janje za žrtvu paljenicu, sine moj!" - odgovori Abraham. I nastave put.

9 Stignu na mjesto o kojemu je Bog govorio. Ondje Abraham podigne žrtvenik, naslaže drva, sveže svog sina Izaka i položi ga po drvima na žrtvenik.

10 Pruži sad Abraham ruku i uzme nož da zakolje svog sina.

11 Uto ga zovne s neba anđeo Jahvin i poviče: "Abrahame! Abrahame!" "Evo me!" - odgovori on.

12 "Ne spuštaj ruku na dječaka", reče, "niti mu što čini! Sad, evo, znam da se Boga bojiš, jer nisi uskratio ni svog sina, jedinca svoga."

13 Podiže Abraham oči i pogleda, i gle - za njim ovan, rogovima se zapleo u grmu. Tako Abraham ode, uzme ovna i prinese ga za žrtvu paljenicu mjesto svoga sina.

14 Onome mjestu Abraham dade ime "Jahve proviđa". Zato se danas veli: "Na brdu Jahvina proviđanja."

15 Anđeo Jahvin zovne Abrahama s neba drugi put

16 i reče: "Kunem se samim sobom, izjavljuje Jahve: Kad si to učinio i nisi mi uskratio svog jedinca sina,

17 svoj ću blagoslov na te izliti i učiniti tvoje potomstvo brojnim poput zvijezda na nebu i pijeska na obali morskoj! A tvoji će potomci osvajati vrata svojih neprijatelja.

18 Budući da si poslušao moju zapovijed, svi će se narodi zemlje blagoslivljati tvojim potomstvom."

19 Zatim se Abraham vrati k svojim slugama pa se zajedno upute u Beer Šebu. U Beer Šebi se Abraham nastani.

20 Poslije tih događaja obavijeste Abrahama: "I tvome bratu Nahoru Milka je porodila djecu:

21 njegova prvorođenca Usa, brata mu Buza i Kemuela - oca Aramova,

22 Keseda, Haza, Pildaša, Jidlafa i Betuela."

23 Betuel je bio otac Rebekin. Njih je osam rodila Milka Nahoru, Abrahamovu bratu.

24 A i njegova suložnica, kojoj bijaše ime Reuma, rodila je Tebaha, Gahama, Tahaša i Maaku.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #2818

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2818. 'To slay his son' means until whatever originated in the merely human was dead. This becomes clear from the internal sense of these words, for they mean the Lord's severest and inmost temptations, in the last of which, that of the Cross, it is clear that the merely human also died. This could not be represented by 'Abraham's son' or Isaac because the sacrificing of sons was an abomination. Yet that death of the human was represented so far as this could be represented; that is to say, it was represented in the attempt to sacrifice Isaac but not in any actual sacrificing of him. From this it may become clear that these words about Abraham taking the knife to slay his son mean until all that was merely human was dead.

[2] The Lord's future coming into the world and His suffering of death had been known since most ancient times. The existence of that knowledge then may be recognized plainly from the custom prevalent among the gentiles of sacrificing their own children, which they did in the belief that by so doing they made atonement and satisfied God. They would never have made this abominable custom their major religious activity unless they had received from the ancients knowledge of a future coming of the Son of God, of whom, so they believed, a sacrifice would be made. The children of Jacob too inclined to this abominable practice, as also did Abraham, for nobody is tempted except through that to which he has an inclination. The fact that the children of Jacob had those inclinations is clear in the Prophets. But to prevent them plunging into that abominable practice the introduction of burnt offerings and sacrifices was permitted, 922, 1128, 1241, 1343, 2180.

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