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1 Και επεσκεφθη ο Κυριος την Σαρραν, ως ειπε· και εκαμεν ο Κυριος εις την Σαρραν, ως ελαλησε.

2 Και συνελαβεν η Σαρρα, και εγεννησεν εις τον Αβρααμ υιον εν τω γηρατι αυτου· κατα τον καιρον, τον οποιον ειπε προς αυτον ο Θεος.

3 Και εκαλεσεν ο Αβρααμ το ονομα του υιου αυτου, του γεννηθεντος εις αυτον, τον οποιον η Σαρρα εγεννησεν εις αυτον, Ισαακ.

4 Περιετεμε δε ο Αβρααμ τον υιον αυτου Ισαακ την ογδοην ημεραν, ως προσεταξεν εις αυτον ο Θεος.

5 Ητο δε ο Αβρααμ εκατον ετων, οτε εγεννηθη εις αυτον Ισαακ ο υιος αυτου.

6 Και ειπεν η Σαρρα, Ο Θεος με εκαμε να γελω· οστις ακουση, θελει γελα μετ' εμου.

7 Και ειπε, Τις ηθελεν ειπει προς τον Αβρααμ, οτι ηθελε θηλασει τεκνα η Σαρρα; επειδη εγεννησα υιον εν τω γηρατι αυτου.

8 Το δε παιδιον ηυξησε και απεγαλακτισθη· και εκαμεν ο Αβρααμ μεγα συμποσιον, καθ' ην ημεραν απεγαλακτισθη ο Ισαακ.

9 Και ειδεν η Σαρρα τον υιον της Αγαρ της Αιγυπτιας, τον οποιον εγεννησεν εις τον Αβρααμ, περιγελωντα τον Ισαακ.

10 Και ειπε προς τον Αβρααμ, Διωξον την δουλην ταυτην και τον υιον αυτης· διοτι δεν θελει κληρονομησει ο υιος της δουλης ταυτης μετα του υιου μου, του Ισαακ.

11 Εφανη δε σκληρον σφοδρα το πραγμα εις τους οφθαλμους του Αβρααμ περι του υιου αυτου.

12 Και ειπεν ο Θεος προς τον Αβρααμ, Ας μη φανη σκληρον εις τους οφθαλμους σου περι του παιδιου και περι της δουλης σου· κατα παντα οσα ειπη προς σε η Σαρρα, ακουε τους λογους αυτης· διοτι εν τω Ισαακ θελει κληθη εις σε σπερμα·

13 και τον υιον δε της δουλης εις εθνος θελω καταστησει αυτον· διοτι ειναι σπερμα σου.

14 Σηκωθεις δε ο Αβρααμ ενωρις το πρωι, ελαβεν αρτους και ασκον υδατος και εδωκεν εις την Αγαρ, επιθεσας αυτα επι τον ωμον αυτης, και το παιδιον, και απεπεμψεν αυτην. Η δε αναχωρησασα περιεπλανατο εν τη ερημω Βηρ-σαβεε.

15 Και αφου ετελειωσε το υδωρ απο του ασκου, ερριψε το παιδιον υποκατω ενος θαμνου·

16 και ελθουσα εκαθισεν απεναντι, μακραν εως τοξου βολης· διοτι ειπε, να μη ιδω τον θανατον του παιδιου. Και εκαθισεν απεναντι και υψωσε την φωνην αυτης και εκλαυσεν.

17 Εισηκουσε δε ο Θεος την φωνην του παιδιου· και εφωνησεν αγγελος Θεου προς την Αγαρ εκ του ουρανου, και ειπε προς αυτην, Τι εχεις, Αγαρ; μη φοβου· διοτι ηκουσεν ο Θεος την φωνην του παιδιου εκ του τοπου ενθα κειται·

18 σηκωθητι, λαβε το παιδιον, και κρατει αυτο με την χειρα σου· διοτι θελω καταστησει αυτο εις εθνος μεγα.

19 Και ηνοιξεν ο Θεος τους οφθαλμους αυτης, και ιδουσα φρεαρ υδατος υπηγε και εγεμισε τον ασκον υδωρ και εποτισε το παιδιον.

20 Και ητο ο Θεος μετα του παιδιου, και ηυξησε, και κατωκησεν εν τη ερημω και εγεινε τοξοτης.

21 Και κατωκησεν εν τη ερημω Φαραν· και η μητηρ αυτου ελαβεν εις αυτον γυναικα εκ γης Αιγυπτου.

22 Κατ' εκεινον δε τον καιρον ο Αβιμελεχ, μετα του Φιχολ αρχιστρατηγου της δυναμεως αυτου, ειπε προς τον Αβρααμ, λεγων, Ο Θεος ειναι μετα σου εις παντα οσα πραττεις·

23 τωρα λοιπον ομοσον προς εμε εδω εις τον Θεον, οτι δεν θελεις ψευσθη προς εμε, ουτε προς τον υιον μου, ουτε προς τους εγγονους μου· αλλα κατα το ελεος, το οποιον εκαμα εις σε, θελεις καμει εις εμε, και εις την γην οπου παρωκησας.

24 Και ειπεν ο Αβρααμ, Εγω θελω ομοσει.

25 Και ελεγξεν ο Αβρααμ τον Αβιμελεχ δια το φρεαρ του υδατος, το οποιον αφηρπασαν οι δουλοι του Αβιμελεχ.

26 Και ειπεν ο Αβιμελεχ, Δεν εξευρω τις επραξε το πραγμα τουτο· και ουτε συ με εφανερωσας και ουτε εγω ηκουσα, ειμη σημερον.

27 Και λαβων ο Αβρααμ προβατα και βοας, εδωκεν εις τον Αβιμελεχ· και εκαμον αμφοτεροι συνθηκην.

28 Και εβαλεν ο Αβρααμ κατα μερος επτα θηλυκα αρνια του ποιμνιου.

29 Και ειπεν ο Αβιμελεχ προς τον Αβρααμ, Τι ειναι ταυτα τα επτα θηλυκα αρνια, τα οποια εβαλες κατα μερος;

30 Ο δε ειπεν, Οτι ταυτα τα επτα θηλυκα αρνια θελεις λαβει εκ της χειρος μου, δια να ηναι εις εμε εις μαρτυριον οτι εγω εσκαψα το φρεαρ τουτο.

31 δια τουτο ωνομασε τον τοπον εκεινον, Βηρ-σαβεε· διοτι εκει ωμοσαν αμφοτεροι.

32 Και εκαμον συνθηκην εν Βηρ-σαβεε. Εσηκωθη δε ο Αβιμελεχ και Φιχολ ο αρχιστρατηγος της δυναμεως αυτου, και επεστρεψαν εις την γην των Φιλισταιων.

33 Και εφυτευσεν ο Αβρααμ δρυμον εν Βηρ-σαβεε· και επεκαλεσθη εκει το ονομα του Κυριου, του αιωνιου Θεου.

34 Παρωκησε δε ο Αβρααμ εν τη γη των Φιλισταιων ημερας πολλας.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #2686

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2686. That 'a bow' is the doctrine of faith is clear from its meaning. In the Word, wherever wars are the subject and wherever wars are mentioned, none but spiritual wars are meant in the internal sense, 1664. There were also in the Ancient Word 1 books that were entitled The Wars of Jehovah, as is clear in Moses, in Numbers 21:14-16. These, which were written in the prophetical style, possessed an internal sense and had as their subject the Lord's conflicts and temptations, and also the Church's conflicts and temptations, and those of members of the Church. This is evident from the fact that some things were selected by Moses from those books, as well as from other books of that Church which were called The Books of the Utterers of Prophecies, 2 referred to in Numbers 21:27-30, where almost the same words occur as in Jeremiah; compare Numbers 21:28 with Jeremiah 48:45. From this it may also be concluded that the Ancient Church had writings, historical and also prophetical, which were Divine and inspired and which in the internal sense had the Lord and His kingdom as their subject, and that for those people these writings were the Word as the historical and the prophetical books are for us, which in the sense of the letter have to do with the Jews and Israelites but in the internal sense with the Lord and with the things which are His.

[2] As in the Word, and also in the books of the Ancient Church, 'war' meant spiritual warfare, so all weapons such as the sword, spear, buckler, shield, arrows, shafts, and bows meant such things specifically as belong to the warfare that is meant in the spiritual sense. What is meant specifically by particular kinds of weapons will in the Lord's Divine mercy be stated elsewhere. Here the meaning of 'the bow', namely the doctrine of truth, will be shown, and how this meaning is derived from arrows, shafts, or darts, which mean the things of doctrine from which and with which those in particular who are spiritual fight, who in former times were therefore called 'archers'.

[3] That 'the bow' means the doctrine of truth becomes clear from the following places: In Isaiah,

The arrows of Jehovah are sharp, and all His bows are bent. His horses' hoofs are considered as flint, and His wheels as the whirlwind. Isaiah 5:28.

This refers to the truths of doctrine. 'arrows' are spiritual truths, 'bows' doctrine, 'horses' hoofs' natural truths, 'wheels' their doctrine. It is because such things are meant by them that those objects are attributed to Jehovah, to whom they cannot be attributed except in the spiritual sense, otherwise they would be words that are empty and not appropriate. In Jeremiah,

The Lord has bent His bow like an enemy, He has stood with His right hand like a foe, and has slain all things pleasant to the eye in the tent of the daughter of Zion, He has poured out His anger like fire. Lamentations 2:4.

'Bow' stands for the doctrine of truth, which is seen by those immersed in falsities as a foe and hostile. No other kind of bow can be spoken of in reference to the Lord. In Habakkuk,

O Jehovah, You ride on Your horses, Your chariots are salvation, Your bow will be made quite bare. Habakkuk 3:8-9.

Here also 'bow' means the doctrine of good and truth. In Moses,

The archers will exasperate him and shoot at him and hate him. He will sit in the strength of his bow, and the arms of his hands will be made strong by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob; from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel. Genesis 49:23-24.

This refers to Joseph, 'bow' standing for the doctrine of good and truth.

[4] In John,

I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; to him a crown was given. Revelation 6:2.

'A white horse' stands for wisdom, 'he who sat on it' for the Word, as is made explicit in Revelation 19:13, where the white horse is referred to again. And because 'he who sat on it' is the Word it is clear that 'a bow' means the doctrine of truth. In Isaiah,

Who stirred up righteousness from the east, called him to be His follower, gave nations before Him, and caused Him to have dominion over kings? He made them as dust to His sword, as driven stubble to His bow. Isaiah 41:2.

This refers to the Lord, 'sword' standing for truth, 'bow' for doctrine derived from Him. In the same prophet,

I will set a sign among them, and I will send survivors from them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan. Isaiah 66:19.

'Those who draw the bow' stands for teachers of doctrine. For what Tarshish means, see 1156; Lud, 1195, 1231; Tubal, 1151; Javan, 1152, 1153, 1155.

[5] In Jeremiah, At the noise of the horseman and of him who wields the bow the whole city takes to flight. They have entered clouds and climbed up on rocks. The whole city has been forsaken. Jeremiah 4:29.

'The horseman' stands for those who declare the truth, 'the bow' for the doctrine of truth, which they flee from or fear who are immersed in falsities. In the same prophet,

Set yourselves in array against Babylon round about; O all you who bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrow, for she has sinned against Jehovah. Jeremiah 50:14, 29; 51:2-3.

Here 'those who shoot and bend the bow' stands for declarers and teachers of the doctrine of truth.

[6] In Zechariah,

I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be cut off, and He will speak peace to the nations. Zechariah 9:10.

'Ephraim' stands for the Church's understanding of truth, 'bow' for doctrine. In Samuel,

David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan, his son, and told [them] to teach the children of Judah the bow. 2 Samuel 1:17-18.

Here 'the bow' is not the subject but doctrinal matters regarding faith. In Ezekiel,

The Lord Jehovih has said, This is the day of which I have spoken, and those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out, and they will make fires of and burn the weapons, both shield and buckler, bow and arrows, both hand-staff and spear; and they will make a fire of them for seven years. Ezekiel 39:8-9.

The weapons mentioned here are all weapons for spiritual war. 'Bow and arrows' stands for doctrine and its truths. Furthermore when truths themselves separated from goods are represented visually in the next life they are seen as arrows.

[7] Just as 'the bow' means the doctrine of truth, so in the contrary sense it means the doctrine of falsity. In the Word things like these nearly always have a contrary sense, as stated and shown in various places; as in Jeremiah,

Behold, a people coming from the land in the north, and a mighty nation will be stirred up from the furthest parts of the earth. They lay hold on bow and spear; it is cruel and they will have no pity. Their voice will roar like the sea, they will ride upon horses, every one set in array as a man for battle, against you, O daughter of Zion! Jeremiah 6:22-23.

Here 'bow' stands for the doctrine of falsity. In the same prophet,

Behold, a people coming from the north, a mighty nation, and many kings will be stirred up from the furthest parts of the earth. They have hold of bow and spear; they are cruel and have no pity. Jeremiah 50:41-42.

Here the meaning is similar. In the same prophet,

They bend their tongue; their bow is a bow of lies and not used for truth. They grow strong in the land, for they have gone on from evil to evil and do not know Me. Jeremiah 9:2-3.

'A bow', it is quite evident, means the doctrine of falsity, for it is said that 'they bend their tongue, their bow is a bow of lies and not for truth'.

[8] In the same prophet,

Jehovah Zebaoth has said, Behold, I am breaking the bow of Elam, the chief of its might. Jeremiah 49:35.

In David,

Come, behold the works of Jehovah who makes desolations in the earth, making wars cease even to the end of the earth, He breaks the bow, shatters the spear, and burns the chariots 3 with fire. Psalms 46:8-9.

In the same author,

In Judah God is known, in Israel His name is great, and in Salem will His tabernacle be, and His dwelling-place in Zion. There He broke the bow's fiery darts, the shield and the sword, and war. Psalms 76:1-3.

In the same author;

Behold, the wicked bend the bow, they prepare their shafts upon the string to shoot in the darkness at the upright in heart. Psalms 11:2.

Here 'bow and shafts' plainly stands for matters of doctrine concerning falsity.

Footnotes:

1. The text has Church, but the Latin is clearly Word.

2. or The Books of Prophetic Utterances. But see 2897.

3. literally, carts or wagons

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