The Bible

 

Genesis 23

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1 Ja Saara elas sada kakskümmend seitse aastat; nii palju oli Saaral eluaastaid.

2 Saara suri Kirjat-Arbas, see on Hebronis, Kaananimaal; ja Aabraham tuli Saarat leinama ja taga nutma.

3 Siis Aabraham tõusis üles oma surnu juurest ja rääkis hettidega, öeldes:

4 'Mina olen teie juures võõras ja majaline. Andke mulle eneste juurde pärandhaud, et saaksin matta surnu oma silma eest.'

5 Ja hetid vastasid Aabrahamile, öeldes temale:

6 'Kuule meid, isand! Sina oled Jumala vürst meie keskel. Mata oma surnu meie kõige paremasse hauda! Ükski meist ei keela sulle oma hauda su surnu matmiseks.'

7 Aga Aabraham tõusis ning kummardas maa rahva, hettide ees

8 ja rääkis nendega, öeldes: 'Kui see on teile meeltmööda, et ma oma surnu oma silma eest ära matan, siis kuulge mind ja mõjustage minu kasuks Efronit, Sohari poega,

9 et ta mulle annaks temale kuuluva Makpela koopa, mis on ta välja servas. Ta andku see mulle täie hinna eest pärushauaks teie keskel!'

10 Aga Efron istus hettide hulgas; ja hett Efron vastas Aabrahamile hettide kuuldes, kõigi juuresolekul, kes ta linna väravast läbi käisid, ja ütles:

11 'Ei, mu isand! Kuule mind! Ma annan sulle välja, samuti ma annan sulle koopa, mis sellel asub; ma annan selle sulle oma rahvuskaaslaste silma all. Mata oma surnu!'

12 Kuid Aabraham kummardas maa rahva ees,

13 rääkis Efroniga maa rahva kuuldes ja ütles: 'Kui sa ometi ise mind kuulda võtaksid! Mina maksan välja eest raha, võta see minult, et saaksin oma surnu sinna matta!'

14 Siis Efron vastas Aabrahamile, öeldes temale:

15 'Mu isand, kuule mind! Maa väärtus on nelisada hõbeseeklit - mis tähtsus sellel ongi minu ja sinu vahekorra juures. Mata aga oma surnu!'

16 Ja Aabraham kuulas Efronit; Aabraham vaagis Efronile raha, mida see hettide kuuldes oli nimetanud, nelisada hõbeseeklit, kaubanduses käibel olevaid.

17 Nõnda said Efroni väli Makpelas Mamre kohal, väli ja selles olev koobas ja kõik väljal olevad puud, mis olid ümber kogu selle maa-ala,

18 Aabrahami omandiks hettide nähes, kõigi juuresolekul, kes linna väravast läbi käisid.

19 Ja seejärel Aabraham mattis oma naise Saara Makpela välja koopasse Mamre kohal, see on Hebronis Kaananimaal.

20 Nõnda said väli ja selles olev koobas hettidelt Aabrahamile pärushauaks.

   

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.