The Bible

 

1 Mose 24:45

Study

       

45 Ehe ich nun solche Worte ausgeredet hatte in meinem Herzen, siehe, da kommt Rebekka heraus mit einem Krug auf ihrer Achsel und gehet hinab zum Brunnen und schöpfet. Da sprach ich zu ihr: Gib mir zu trinken.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #3136

Study this Passage

  
/ 10837  
  

3136. 'And behold, he was standing with the camels' means presence in general facts. This is clear from the meaning of 'standing with' as being present, and from the meaning of 'the camels' as general facts, dealt with in 3048, 3071.

  
/ 10837  
  

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

Commentary

 

Stranger

  

The word "stranger" is used many times in the Bible, and it is sometimes paired with the word "sojourner". They are different concepts in the Hebrew, and some translations make the mistake of using them interchangeably. 'A sojourner', like 'a stranger', indicates a newcomer and inhabitant from another land; but 'a sojourner' refers to people who were taught and accepted the Church's truths, whereas those who were not taught them because they were unwilling to accept them are called 'strangers'. (Arcana Coelestia 8002)

In Ezekiel 28:7, 'strangers' signify falsities which destroy truths, and 'the terrible of the nations' signifies evils which destroy good.