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Genesis 24

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1 Abraham var blevet gammel og til Års, og HE EN havde velsignet ham i alle Måder.

2 Da sagde Abraham til sin Træl, sit Hus's ældste, som stod for hele hans Ejendom: "Læg din Hånd under min Lænd,

3 så jeg kan tage dig i Ed ved HE EN, Himmelens og Jordens Gud, at du ikke vil tage min Søn en Hustru af Kana'anæernes Døtre. blandt hvem jeg bor,

4 men drage til mit Land og min Hjemstavn og tage min Søn Isak en Hustru derfra!"

5 Da sagde Trællen: "Men hvis nu Pigen ikke vil følge mig her til Landet, skal jeg så bringe din Søn tilbage til det Land, du vandrede ud fra?"

6 Abraham svarede: "Vogt dig vel for at bringe min Søn tilbage dertil!

7 HE EN, Himmelens Gud, som tog mig bort fra min Faders Hus og min Hjemstavns Land, som talede til mig og tilsvor mig, at han vil give mit Afkom dette Land, han vil sende sin Engel foran dig, så du kan tage min Søn en Hustru derfra;

8 men hvis Pigen ikke vil følge dig, så er du løst fra Eden til mig; men i intet Tilfælde må du bringe min Søn tilbage dertil!"

9 Da lagde Trællen sin Hånd under sin Herre Abrahams Lænd og svor ham Eden.

10 Derpå tog Trællen ti af sin Herres Kameler og alle Hånde kostbare Gaver fra sin Herre og gav sig på Vej til Nakors By i Aram Naharajim.

11 Uden for Byen lod han Kamelerne knæle ved Brønden ved Aftenstid, ved den Tid Kvinderne går ud for at hente Vand;

12 og han bad således: "HE E. du min Herre Abrahams Gud, lad det lykkes for mig i dag og vis Miskundhed mod min Herre Abraham!

13 Se, jeg stiller mig her ved Vandkilden, nu Bymændenes Døtre går ud for at hente Vand;

14 og siger jeg nu til en Pige: Hæld din Krukke og giv mig at drikke! og siger så hun: Drik kun, og jeg vil også give dine Kameler at drikke! lad det da være hende, du har udset til din Tjener Isak; således vil jeg kunne kende, at du har vist Miskundhed mod min Herre!"

15 Knap var han færdig med at bede, se, da kom ebekka, en Datter af Betuel, der var en Søn af Abrahams Broder Nakors Hustru Milka, gående med Krukken på Skulderen,

16 en såre smuk Kvinde, Jomfru, endnu ikke kendt af nogen Mand. Hun steg ned til Kilden, fyldte sin Krukke og steg op igen.

17 Da ilede Trællen hen til hende og sagde: "Giv mig lidt Vand at drikke af din Krukke!"

18 Hun svarede: "Drik, Herre!" og løftede straks Krukken ned på sin Hånd og lod ham drikke;

19 og da hun havde slukket hans Tørst, sagde hun: "Jeg vil også øse Vand til dine Kameler, til de har slukket deres Tørst."

20 skyndte hun sig hen og tømte Krukken i Truget og løb tilbage til Brønden for at øse, og således øste hun til alle hans Kameler.

21 Imidlertid stod Manden og så tavs på hende for at få at vide, om HE EN havde ladet hans ejse lykkes eller ej;

22 og da Kamelernes Tørst var slukket, tog han en gylden Næsering, der vejede en halv Sekel, og to Armbånd, der vejede ti Guldsekel, og satte dem på hendes Arme;

23 og han sagde til hende: "Sig mig, hvis Datter du er! Er der Plads til os i din Faders Hus for Natten?"

24 Hun svarede: "Jeg er Datter af Betuel, som Milka fødte Nakor;"

25 og videre sagde hun: "Der er rigeligt både af Strå og Foder hos os og Plads til at overnatte "

26 Da bøjede Manden sig og tilbad HE EN,

27 idet han sagde: "Lovet være HE EN, min Herre Abrahams Gud. som ikke har unddraget min Herre sin Miskundhed og Trofasthed! HE EN har ført mig på Vejen til min Herres Broders Hus."

28 Pigen løb imidlertid hjem og fortalte alt dette i sin Moders Hus.

29 Men ebekka havde en Broder ved Navn Laban; han løb ud til Manden ved Kilden;

30 og da han så Næseringen og Armbåndene på sin Søsters Arme og hørte sin Søster ebekka fortælle, hvad Manden havde sagt til hende, gik han ud til Manden, som stod med sine Kameler ved Kilden;

31 og han sagde: "Kom, du HE ENs velsignede, hvorfor står du herude? Jeg har ryddet op i Huset og gjort Plads til Kamelerne."

32 kom Manden hen til Huset og tog Seletøjet af Kamelerne, og Laban bragte Strå og Foder til dem og Vand til Fodtvæt for Manden og hans Ledsagere.

33 Men da der blev sat Mad for ham, sagde han: "Jeg vil intet nyde, før jeg har røgtet mit Ærinde!" De svarede: "Sig frem!"

34 sagde han: "Jeg er Abrahams Træl.

35 HE EN har velsignet min Herre i rigt Mål, så han er blevet en velstående Mand, og givet ham Småkvæg og Hornkvæg, Sølv og Guld, Trælle og Trælkvinder, Kameler og Æsler

36 og Sara, min Herres Hustru, har født ham en Søn i hans Alderdom, og ham har han givet alt, hvad han ejer.

37 Og nu har min Herre taget mig i Ed og sagt: Du må ikke tage min Søn en Hustru blandt Kana'anæernes Døtre, i hvis Land jeg bor;

38 Men du skal drage til min Faders Hus og min Slægt og tage min Søn en Hustru derfra!

39 Og da jeg sagde til min Herre: Men hvis nu Pigen ikke vil følge med mig?

40 svarede han: HE EN, for hvis Åsyn jeg har vandret, vil sende sin Engel med dig og lade din ejse lykkes, så du kan tage min Søn en Hustru af min Slægt og min Faders Hus;

41 i modsat Fald er du løst fra Eden til mig; kommer du til min Slægt, og de ikke vil give dig hende, er du løst fra Eden til mig!

42 Da jeg nu i Dag kom til Kilden, bad jeg således: HE E, du min Herre Abrahams Gud! Vilde du dog lade den ejse lykkes, som jeg nu har for!

43 Se, jeg stiller mig her ved Kilden, og siger jeg nu til den Pige, der kommer for at øse Vand: Giv mig lidt Vand at drikke af din Krukke!

44 og svarer så hun: Drik selv, og jeg vil også øse Vand til dine Kameler! lad hende da være den Kvinde, HE EN har udset til min Herres Søn!

45 Og knap var jeg færdig med at tale således ved mig selv, se, da kom ebekka med sin Krukke på Skulderen og steg ned til Kilden og øste Vand, og da jeg sagde til hende: Giv mig noget at drikke!

46 løftede hun straks sin Krukke ned og sagde: Drik kun, og jeg vil også give dine Kameler at drikke! Så drak jeg, og hun gav også Kamelerne at drikke.

47 Da spurgte jeg hende: Hvis Datter er du? Og hun sagde: Jeg er Datter af Betuel, Nakors og Milkas Søn! Så satte jeg ingen i hendes Næse og Armbåndene på hendes Arme;

48 og jeg bøjede mig og tilbad HE EN, og jeg lovede HE EN, min Herre Abrahams Gud, som havde ført mig den rigtige Vej, så jeg: kunde tage min Herres Broderdatter til hans Søn!

49 Hvis I nu vil vise min Herre Godhed og Troskab, så sig mig det, og hvis ikke, så sig mig det. for at jeg kan have noget at rette mig efter!"

50 Da sagde Laban og Betuel:"Denne Sag kommer fra HE EN,. vi kan hverken gøre fra eller til!

51 Der står ebekka foran dig, tag hende og drag bort, at hun kan: blive din Herres Søns Hustru, således som HE EN har sagt!"

52 Da Abrahams Træl hørte deres Ord, kastede han sig til Jorden for HE EN.

53 Derpå fremtog Trællen Sølv og Guldsmykker og Klæder og gav ebekka dem, og til hendes Broder og Moder uddelte han Gaver.

54 spiste og drak han og hans Ledsagere og overnattede der. Da, de var stået op næste Morgen. sagde han: "Lad mig nu fare til. min Herre!"

55 Men ebekkas Broder og Moder svarede: "Lad dog Pigen blive hos os i nogen Tid, en halv Snes Dage eller så, siden kan du drage bort"

56 Da sagde han til dem: "Ophold mig ikke, nu HE EN har ladet min ejse lykkes; lad mig fare! Jeg vil drage til min Herre!"

57 De svarede; "Lad os kalde på. Pigen og spørge hende selv!"

58 Og de kaldte på ebekka og; spurgte hende: "Vil du drage med denne Mand?" Hun svarede: "Ja. jeg vil!"

59 Da tog de Afsked med deres, Søster ebekka og hendes Amme og med Abrahams Træl og hans Ledsagere;

60 og de velsignede ebekka og sagde: "Måtte du, vor Søster, blive til ti Tusind Tusinder, og måtte dit Afkom indtage dine Fjenders Porte!"

61 Så brød ebekka og hendes Piger op, og de satte sig på Kamelerne og fulgte med Manden; og Trællen tog ebekka og drog bort.

62 Isak var imidlertid draget til Ørkenen ved Be'erlahajro'i, og han boede i Sydlandet.

63 Da han engang ved Aftenstid var gået ud på Marken for at bede, så han op og fik Øje på nogle Kameler, der nærmede sig.

64 Men da ebekka så op og fik Øje på Isak, lod hun sig glide ned af Kamelen

65 og spurgte Trællen: "Hvem er den Mand der, som kommer os i Møde på Marken?" Trællen svarede: "Det er min Herre!" Da tog hun sit Slør og tilhyllede sig.

66 Men Trællen fortalte Isak alt, hvad han havde udrettet.

67 Da førte Isak ebekka ind i sin Moder Saras Telt og tog hende til Hustru; og han fik hende kær. Således blev Isak trøstet efter sin Moder.

   


The Project Gutenberg Association at Carnegie Mellon University

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Arcana Coelestia #3016

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3016. Abraham being old was come into days. That this signifies when the state was at hand that the Lord’s Human should be made Divine, is evident from the representation of Abraham, as being the Lord (see n. 1893, 1965, 1989, 2011, 2172, 2198, 2501, 2833, 2836, and many other places); and from the signification of “old,” or of “old age,” as being to put off what is human, and put on what is heavenly (see n. 1854, 2198); and when predicated of the Lord, as being to put on the Divine. The same is evident also from the signification of “day,” as being state (see n. 23, 487, 488, 493, 893, 2788); and hence from the signification of “coming into days,” as being when the state was at hand. Such things are signified by “old” and “coming into days,” for the reason that the angels have no idea of old age, or of the advancing age which is meant by “coming into days;” but an idea of state in regard to the life in which they are; and therefore when mention is made in the Word of advancement in age, and of old age, the angels who are with man can have no other idea than of the state of life in which the persons are, and in which men are while passing through their ages even to the last; namely, that they thus successively put off what is human and put on what is heavenly. For human life, from infancy to old age, is nothing else than a progression from the world to heaven; and the last age, which is death, is the transition itself. Therefore burial is resurrection, because it is a complete putting off (see n. 2916, 2917). As the angels are in such an idea, nothing else can be signified by “coming into days” and by “old age” in the internal sense which is principally for angels and for men who are angelic minds.

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

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Arcana Coelestia #2788

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2788. On the third day. That this signifies completeness, and the beginning of sanctification, is evident from the signification of the “third day.” “Day” in the Word signifies state (n. 23, 487, 488, 493, 893); as also does “year,” and in general all periods of time; as an “hour,” a “day,” a “week,” a “month,” a “year,” an “age;” as also “morning,” “noon,” “evening,” and “night;” and “spring,” “summer,” “autumn,” and “winter;” and when “third” is added to these, they signify the end of that state, and at the same time the beginning of the following state. As the Lord’s sanctification is here treated of, which was effected by temptations, the “third day” signifies completeness, and at the same time the beginning of sanctification, as also follows from what has been already said. The reason of this signification is that when the Lord had fulfilled all things He would rise again on the third day; for the things that were done, or that would be done by the Lord when He lived in the world, were in the representatives of the church as if already done (as also they were in the internal sense of the Word); for in God to be and to become are the same; indeed all eternity is present to Him.

[2] Hence the number “three” was representative, not only in the Ancient Church and in the Jewish, but also among various nations. (See what is said concerning this number above, n. 720, 901, 1825.) That this was the origin of the signification of “three,” is evident in Hosea:

Let us return unto Jehovah, for He hath wounded, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up; after two days He will revive us, on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live before Him (Hos. 6:1-2); where the “third day” denotes the Lord’s coming, and His resurrection. And from Jonah, that he “was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights” (Jonah 1:17); concerning which the Lord thus speaks in Matthew:

As Jonah was in the whale’s belly three days and three nights, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40).

[3] Be it known that in the internal sense of the Word “three days” and the “third day” signify the same, as also do “three” and “third” in the passages which now follow.

In John:

Jesus said to the Jews, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. He spake of the temple of His body (John 2:19-21; Matthew 26:61; Mark 14:58; 15:29).

[4] That the Lord rose again on the third day is known. For the same reason the Lord distinguished the periods of His life into three, as stated in Luke:

Go ye and tell that fox, Behold I cast out demons, and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I am perfected (Luke 13:32).

His last temptation also, that of the cross, the Lord endured at the “third hour” of the day (Mark 15:25); and after three hours there came darkness over the whole land, or at the “sixth hour” (Luke 23:44); and after three hours, or at the “ninth hour,” the end (Mark 15:33-34, 37). But on the morning of the “third day” He rose again (Mark 16:1-4; Luke 24:7; (see Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:18-19; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34; Luke 18:33; 24:46). From all this, and especially from the Lord’s resurrection on the third day, the number “three” was representative and significative, as may be seen from the following passages in the Word:

When Jehovah came down upon Mount Sinai, He told Moses to sanctify the people today and tomorrow, and that they should wash their garments, and be ready against the third day, for on the third day Jehovah would descend (Exodus 19:10-11, 15-16).

When they set forth from the mount of Jehovah on a journey of three days, the ark of Jehovah went before them a three days’ journey to seek out a resting place for them (Numbers 10:33).

There was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days, and they saw not one another for three days, but the sons of Israel had light (Exodus 10:22-23).

[5] The flesh of the sacrifice of a vow, or of a freewill-offering, was to be eaten on the first and second day; nothing was to be left to the third day, but the remainder was to be burnt, because it was an abomination.

So too with the flesh of the peace-offering; and if it should be eaten on the third day it would not propitiate, but the soul should carry its iniquity (Leviticus 7:16-18; 19:6-7).

He that touched one dead was to purify himself on the third day, and on the seventh day he should be clean; otherwise that soul should be cut off from Israel; and one that was clean should sprinkle water upon him that was unclean on the third day and on the seventh day (Numbers 19:12-13, 19).

They who slew a person in battle, or touched one that was slain, were to purify themselves on the third day, and on the seventh day (Numbers 31:19).

[6] When they came into the land of Canaan the fruit was to be uncircumcised three years, and was not to be eaten (Leviticus 19:23).

At the end of three years they were to bring all the tithes of their increase in that year and lay it up in their gates, that the Levite, the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow might eat (Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 24:12).

Three times in the year they were to keep a feast to Jehovah, and three times in the year every male was to appear before the face of the Lord Jehovih (Exodus 23:14, 17; Deuteronomy 16:16).

Joshua told the people that in three days they should pass over the Jordan and inherit the land (Josh. 1:11; 3:2).

[7] Jehovah called to Samuel three times, and he answered the third time (1 Samuel 3:8).

When Saul wished to kill David, David hid himself in the field till the third evening. Jonathan said to David that he would sound his father on the third day. Jonathan shot three arrows by the side of the stone, and David then fell upon his face to the earth before Jonathan and bowed himself down three times (1 Samuel 20:5, 12, 19-20, 30, 36, 41).

David was to choose one of three things: seven years of famine in the land; or that he should flee before his enemies three months; or a pestilence in the land three days (2 Samuel 24:12-13).

[8] There was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year (2 Samuel 21:1).

Elijah stretched himself upon the dead child three times and brought him to life (1 Kings 17:21).

When Elijah had built the altar to Jehovah, he told them to pour water upon the burnt offering and upon the wood three times (1 Kings 18:34).

The fire twice consumed the commanders over fifty, sent to Elijah, but not him that was sent the third time (2 Kings 1:13).

It was a sign to king Hezekiah that they should eat that year what sprung up spontaneously, in the second year the aftergrowth, but in the third year they should sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them (2 Kings 19:29).

[9] Daniel entered into his house and had the windows open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, and here three times a day he blessed upon his knees and prayed (Daniel 6:11, 14).

Daniel mourned three weeks of days, eating no pleasant bread, nor drinking wine, nor anointing himself, until the three weeks of days were fulfilled (Daniel 10:2-3.

Isaiah went naked and barefoot three years, for a sign and a wonder upon Egypt and upon Cush (Isaiah 20:3).

Out of the candlestick went forth three branches on each side, and three almond-shaped cups on each branch (Exodus 25:32-33).

In the Urim and Thummim there were three precious stones in each row (Exodus 28:17-19).

[10] In the new temple there were to be three chambers of the gate on this side and three on that side, and they three should have one measure; at the porch of the house the breadth of the gate should be three cubits on this side and three cubits on that side (Ezekiel 40:10, 21, 48).

In the new Jerusalem there were to be three gates to the north, three to the east, three to the south, and three to the west (Ezekiel 48:31-34; Revelation 21:13).

So in the following passages:

Peter denied Jesus thrice (Matthew 26:34, 26:69-75 d following verses).

The Lord said to Peter three times, “Lovest thou Me?” (John 21:17).

Also in the parable, the man who planted the vineyard sent servants three times, and at length his son (Luke 20:12; Mark 12:2, 4-6).

They who labored in the vineyard were hired at the third hour, the sixth hour, the ninth hour, and the eleventh hour (Matthew 20:1-17).

Because the fig tree did not bear fruit for three years, it was to be cut down (Luke 13:6-7).

[11] As a trine and a third were representative, so also was a third part; as that in the meat offering of fine flour two tenths were mixed with a third part of a hin of oil; and the wine for a libation was a third part of a hin (Numbers 15:6-7; Ezekiel 46:14).

The prophet Ezekiel was to pass a razor upon his head, and upon his beard, and then divide the hair and burn a third part in the fire, and smite a third with the sword, about it [the city], and scatter a third to the wind (Ezekiel 5:1-2, 11).

In the whole land, two parts were to be cut off and the third was to be left; but the third was to be brought through the fire and proved (Zech. 13:8-9).

[12] When the first angel sounded there came hail and fire mingled with blood, and it fell upon the earth so that a third part of the trees were burnt up. The second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea, and a third part of the sea became blood; because of which a third part of the creatures in the sea having souls, died, and a third part of the ships were destroyed. The third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven burning like a lamp, and it fell upon a third part of the rivers; the name of the star was Wormwood. The fourth angel sounded, and a third part of the sun was smitten, and a third part of the moon, and a third part of the stars, so that a third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night in like manner (Revelation 8:7-12).

[13] The four angels were loosed to kill a third part of men (Revelation 9:15).

By these three were the third part of men killed, by the fire, and the smoke, and the brimstone, which proceeded out of the mouth of the horses (Revelation 9:18).

The dragon drew with his tail a third part of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth (Revelation 12:4).

A “third part,” however, signifies some, and what is not yet complete; but the “third,” and a “trine,” what is complete; and this, of evil to the evil, and of good to the good.

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