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1 Και οτε ειδεν η Ραχηλ οτι δεν ετεκνοποιησεν εις τον Ιακωβ, εφθονησεν η Ραχηλ την αδελφην αυτης· και ειπε προς τον Ιακωβ, Δος μοι τεκνα· ειδε μη, εγω αποθνησκω.

2 Και εξηφθη ο θυμος του Ιακωβ κατα της Ραχηλ και ειπε, Μηπως ειμαι εγω αντι του Θεου οστις σε εστερησεν απο καρπου κοιλιας;

3 Η δε ειπεν, Ιδου, η θεραπαινα μου Βαλλα· εισελθε προς αυτην, και θελει γεννησει επι των γονατων μου, δια να αποκτησω και εγω τεκνα εξ αυτης.

4 Και εδωκεν εις αυτον την Βαλλαν την θεραπαιναν αυτης δια γυναικα· και εισηλθεν ο Ιακωβ προς αυτην.

5 Και συνελαβεν η Βαλλα, και εγεννησεν υιον εις τον Ιακωβ·

6 και ειπεν η Ραχηλ, Ο Θεος με εκρινε και ηκουσε και την φωνην μου και μοι εδωκεν υιον· δια τουτο εκαλεσε το ονομα αυτου Δαν.

7 Και συνελαβε παλιν η Βαλλα, η θεραπαινα της Ραχηλ, και εγεννησε δευτερον υιον εις τον Ιακωβ·

8 και ειπεν η Ραχηλ, Δυνατην παλην επαλαισα μετα της αδελφης μου, και υπερισχυσα· και εκαλεσε το ονομα αυτου Νεφθαλι.

9 Και οτε ειδεν η Λεια οτι επαυσε να γεννα, ελαβε την Ζελφαν την θεραπαιναν αυτης, και εδωκεν αυτην εις τον Ιακωβ δια γυναικα.

10 Και η Ζελφα, η θεραπαινα της Λειας, εγεννησεν υιον εις τον Ιακωβ·

11 και ειπεν η Λεια, Ευτυχια ερχεται· και εκαλεσε το ονομα αυτου Γαδ.

12 Και εγεννησεν η Ζελφα, η θεραπαινα της Λειας, δευτερον υιον εις τον Ιακωβ·

13 και ειπεν η Λεια, Μακαρια εγω, διοτι θελουσι με μακαριζει αι γυναικες· και εκαλεσε το ονομα αυτου Ασηρ.

14 Και υπηγεν ο Ρουβην εν ταις ημεραις του θερισμου του σιτου και ευρηκε μανδραγορας εν τω αγρω, και εφερεν αυτους προς την Λειαν την μητερα αυτου. Ειπε δε η Ραχηλ προς την Λειαν, Δος μοι, παρακαλω, απο τους μανδραγορας του υιου σου.

15 Η δε ειπε προς αυτην, Μικρον πραγμα ειναι, οτι ελαβες τον ανδρα μου; και θελεις να λαβης και τους μανδραγορας του υιου μου; και η Ραχηλ ειπε, Λοιπον ας κοιμηθη μετα σου ταυτην την νυκτα, δια τους μανδραγορας του υιου σου.

16 Και ηλθεν ο Ιακωβ το εσπερας εκ του αγρου, και εξελθουσα η Λεια εις συναντησιν αυτου, ειπε, Προς εμε θελεις εισελθει, διοτι σε εμισθωσα τωοντι με τους μανδραγορας του υιου μου. Και εκοιμηθη μετ' αυτης εκεινην την νυκτα.

17 Και εισηκουσεν ο Θεος της Λειας· και συνελαβε και εγεννησεν εις τον Ιακωβ πεμπτον υιον.

18 Και ειπεν η Λεια, Εδωκε μοι ο Θεος τον μισθον μου, διοτι εδωκα την θεραπαιναν μου εις τον ανδρα μου· και εκαλεσε το ονομα αυτου Ισσαχαρ.

19 Και συνελαβεν ακομη η Λεια, και εγεννησεν εκτον υιον εις τον Ιακωβ·

20 και ειπεν η Λεια, με επροικισεν ο Θεος με καλην προικα· τωρα θελει κατοικησει μετ' εμου ο ανηρ μου, διοτι εγεννησα εις αυτον εξ υιους· και εκαλεσε το ονομα αυτου Ζαβουλων.

21 Και μετα ταυτα εγεννησε θυγατερα, και εκαλεσε το ονομα αυτης Δειναν.

22 Ενεθυμηθη δε ο Θεος την Ραχηλ και εισηκουσεν αυτης ο Θεος, και ηνοιξε την μητραν αυτης·

23 και συνελαβε, και εγεννησεν υιον· και ειπεν, Ο Κυριος αφηρεσε το ονειδος μου.

24 Και εκαλεσε το ονομα αυτου Ιωσηφ, λεγουσα, Ο Θεος να προσθεση εις εμε και αλλον υιον.

25 Και αφου η Ραχηλ εγεννησε τον Ιωσηφ, ειπεν ο Ιακωβ προς τον Λαβαν, Εξαποστειλον με, δια να απελθω εις τον τοπον μου, και εις την πατριδα μου·

26 δος μοι τας γυναικας μου και τα παιδια μου, δια τας οποιας σε εδουλευσα δια να απελθω· διοτι συ γνωριζεις την δουλευσιν μου, την οποιαν σε εδουλευσα.

27 Ειπε δε προς αυτον ο Λαβαν, Παρακαλω σε, να ευρω χαριν εμπροσθεν σου· εγνωρισα εκ πειρας, οτι ο Κυριος με ευλογησεν εξ αιτιας σου.

28 Και ειπε, Διορισον μοι τον μισθον σου, και θελω σοι δωσει αυτον.

29 Ο δε ειπε προς αυτον, συ γνωριζεις τινι τροπω σε εδουλευσα, και ποσα εγειναν τα κτηνη σου μετ' εμου·

30 διοτι οσα ειχες προ εμου ησαν ολιγα, και τωρα ηυξησαν εις πληθος· και ο Κυριος σε ευλογησε με την ελευσιν μου· και τωρα ποτε θελω προβλεψει και εγω δια τον οικον μου;

31 Ο δε ειπε, Τι να σοι δωσω; Και ο Ιακωβ ειπε, δεν θελεις μοι δωσει ουδεν· εαν καμης εις εμε το πραγμα τουτο, παλιν θελω ποιμαινει το ποιμνιον σου και φυλαττει αυτο·

32 να περασω σημερον δια μεσον ολου του ποιμνιου σου, διαχωριζων εκειθεν παν προβατον εχον ποικιλματα και κηλιδας, και παν το μελανωπον μεταξυ των αρνιων, και το εχον κηλιδας και ποικιλματα μεταξυ των αιγων· και ταυτα να ηναι ο μισθος μου·

33 και εις το εξης η δικαιοσυνη μου θελει μαρτυρησει περι εμου, οταν ελθη εμπροσθεν σου δια τον μισθον μου· παν ο, τι δεν ειναι με ποικιλματα και κηλιδας μεταξυ των αιγων, και μελανωπον μεταξυ των αρνιων, θελει λογισθη κλεμμενον υπ' εμου.

34 Και ειπεν ο Λαβαν, Ιδου, εστω κατα τον λογον σου.

35 Και την ημεραν εκεινην διεχωρισε τους τραγους τους παρδαλους και κηλιδωτους και πασας τας αιγας οσαι ειχον ποικιλματα και κηλιδας, παντα οσα ησαν διαλευκα, και παντα τα μελανωπα μεταξυ των αρνιων, και εδωκεν αυτα εις τας χειρας των υιων αυτου·

36 και εθεσε τριων ημερων οδον μεταξυ εαυτου και του Ιακωβ· ο δε Ιακωβ εποιμαινε το υπολοιπον του ποιμνιου του Λαβαν.

37 Και ελαβεν εις εαυτον ο Ιακωβ ραβδους χλωρας εκ λευκης και καρυας και πλατανου και εξελεπισεν αυτας κατα λεπισματα λευκα, ωστε εφαινετο το λευκον το εις τας ραβδους·

38 και εθεσε τας ραβδους, τας οποιας εξελεπισεν, εις τα αυλακια του υδατος, εις τας ποτιστρας, οπου τα ποιμνια ηρχοντο να πινωσι, δια να συλλαμβανωσι τα ποιμνια ενω ηρχοντο να πινωσι.

39 Και συνελαμβανον τα ποιμνια βλεποντα τας ραβδους, και εγεννων προβατα παρδαλα, ποικιλα και κηλιδωτα.

40 Διεχωρισε δε ο Ιακωβ τα αρνια, και εστρεψε τα προσωπα των προβατων του ποιμνιου του Λαβαν προς τα παρδαλα και προς παντα τα μελανωπα· τα δε εαυτου ποιμνια εθεσε χωριστα, και δεν εθεσεν αυτα μετα των προβατων του Λαβαν.

41 Και καθ' ον καιρον τα πρωιμα προβατα ηρχοντο εις συλληψιν, ο Ιακωβ εθετε τας ραβδους εις τα αυλακια εμπροσθεν των οφθαλμων του ποιμνιου, δια να συλλαμβανωσι βλεποντα προς τας ραβδους·

42 οτε δε τα προβατα ησαν οψιμα, δεν εθετεν αυτας· και ουτω τα οψιμα ησαν του Λαβαν, τα δε πρωιμα του Ιακωβ.

43 Και ηυξησεν ο ανθρωπος σφοδρα σφοδρα, και απεκτησε ποιμνια πολλα και δουλας και δουλους και καμηλους και ονους.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #3923

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3923. 'Therefore she called his name Dan' means the essential nature of it. This is clear from the meaning of 'name' and 'calling the name' as the essential nature, dealt with in 144, 145, 1754, 1896, 2009, 2724, 3421. The particular nature is contained in the name Dan, for he was so called from the verb 'to judge'. But although he was given this name from that verb, it nevertheless includes those things meant in the whole of Rachel's utterance 'God has judged me, and also has heard my voice'. That is, the name Dan holds within it the good of life and the holiness of faith, and also in the highest sense the Lord's righteousness and mercy. This general essential of the Church is meant by Dan and represented by the tribe named after Dan, and it is the first that has to be affirmed and acknowledged before a person can be regenerated or become the Church. Unless such goodness and holiness are affirmed and acknowledged, all the other qualities constituting faith and life cannot possibly be received, nor therefore affirmed, still less acknowledged. For anyone whose affirmation does not go beyond faith to the holiness of faith, which is charity - for charity is the holiness of faith - and does not affirm that holiness of faith through the good of life, that is, through charitable works, can no longer have any enthusiasm for the essence of faith since he rejects it. Acknowledgement as well as affirmation is the first general attainment in a person who is being regenerated but the last with one who has been regenerated. This explains why Dan comes first with one who is to be regenerated and Joseph last, for Joseph is the spiritual man himself, but why Joseph comes first with one who has been regenerated and Dan last. The reason for this is that one who is to be regenerated is at the point of beginning to affirm that these qualities - the holiness of faith and the good of life - are truly such. But one who is regenerate - a spiritual man - has arrived at spiritual good itself, and from here he sees the affirmation of those qualities as that which comes last, because the things that constitute the holiness of faith and the good of life have become firmly established in him.

[2] That 'Dan' means this affirmative attitude which must exist first when a person is being regenerated may also be seen from other places in the Word where Dan is mentioned, for example from the prophecy of Jacob, who by then was Israel, concerning his own sons, Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan will be a serpent on the road, an asp on the path, biting the horse's heels; and its rider falls backwards. I am awaiting Your salvation, O Jehovah. Genesis 49:16-18.

'Dan' in this case stands for an affirmative attitude to truth. This attitude is spoken of as a serpent which will be on the road and an asp on the path when someone reasoning about truth does so from sensory evidence. 'Biting the horse's heels' means when that person resorts to the lowest level of the understanding - namely factual knowledge - and bases his conclusions on this. And the fact that when he does so he is drawn away from the truth is meant by 'its rider falls backwards', as a consequence of which it is said that 'I am awaiting Your salvation, O Jehovah'. For 'a serpent' means one who reasons from sensory evidence and from factual knowledge about Divine arcana, see 195-197; 'road' and 'path' mean truth, 627, 2333; 'the horse's heels' means the lowest level of the understanding, which is factual knowledge, 259 - 'a horse' meaning the understanding, 2761, 2762, the lowest level of which is meant by 'the heel'.

[3] In Moses' prophecy regarding the twelve tribes,

To Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp; he leaps out from Bashan. Deuteronomy 33:22.

'A lion' in the internal sense of the Word means the truth of the Church, on account of its strength, truth being that which fights and overcomes. 'A lion's whelp' therefore stands for the first stage truth passes through, which is one of affirmation and acknowledgement. The phrase 'from Bashan' is used because these begin in the good of the natural. In Jeremiah,

Wash your heart from wickedness, O Jerusalem, that you may be saved. How long are you causing your iniquitous thoughts to lodge within you? For there is a voice of one declaring from Dan, and of one causing iniquity to be heard from Mount Ephraim. Jeremiah 4:14-15.

'From Dan' stands for truth that is to be affirmed, 'from Mount Ephraim' for this being done from the affection for it.

[4] In the same prophet,

Await peace, and no good comes; for a time of healing, and behold, terror! From Dan the snorting of his horses was heard; at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones the whole land quaked. And they came and devoured the land and the fulness of it, the city and those dwelling in it. For behold, I am sending into you poisonous serpents which do not respond to charming; and they will bite you. Jeremiah 8:15-17.

'From Dan the snorting of horses was heard' stands for reasoning about truth from an unaffirmative attitude. 'The land which quaked' and 'they devoured the fulness of it' stand for the Church and all things constituting the Church. For people who reason about truth from an unaffirmative or negative attitude destroy everything that is part of faith. 'Poisonous serpents' stands for reasonings, as above.

[5] In Ezekiel,

Dan and Javan came and exchanged wrought iron at your fairs, cassia and calamus were in your trading. Ezekiel 27:19.

This refers to Tyre, which means cognitions of truth and good, 1201. 'Dan' stands for the first truths that are affirmed, 'fairs and tradings' for acquisitions of truth and good, 2967, 'wrought iron' stands for natural truth, which is primary, 425, 426, 'cassia and calamus' for the same, but natural truth from which good flows.

[6] In Amos,

On that day the beautiful virgins and the young men will faint for thirst. Those swearing to the offence of Samaria, who say, Your God lives, O Dan, and the way of Beersheba lives, they will both fall and not rise again. Amos 8:13-14.

'Your God lives, O Dan, and the way of Beersheba lives' stands for their negative attitude towards everything that constitutes faith and its doctrine - 'way' meaning truth, 627, 2333, and 'Beersheba' doctrine, 2723, 2858, 2859, 3466. The reason a negative attitude towards everything constituting faith is meant is that Dan was the last boundary of the land of Canaan, and Beersheba the first; that is, it was situated in the middle or inmost part of the land. For the land of Canaan represented and meant the Lord's kingdom, and so the Church, 1607, 3038, 3481, and therefore every detail of love and faith, since these constitute the Lord's kingdom and Church. Consequently everything in the land of Canaan was representative, being determined by the distances, positions, and boundaries there, 1585, 1866, 3686.

[7] The first - that is, the central or inmost - point of reference to the land, before Jerusalem became such, was Beersheba; for this was where Abraham and also Isaac lived. But the outermost point of reference or the last boundary was Dan. Consequently when everything in its entirety was meant the phrase 'Dan even to Beersheba' was used, as in the second Book of Samuel,

To transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba. 2 Samuel 3:10:.

In the same book,

David said to Joab, Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan even to Beersheba. 2 Samuel 24:2, 15.

In the first Book of Kings,

Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every one under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba. 1 Kings 4:25.

This phrase is used in the historical sense to mean every part of the land of Canaan, but in the internal sense everything constituting the Lord's kingdom, and also everything constituting the Church.

[8] Dan means the first boundary, and also - as stated above - the last boundary, for the reason that the affirmative attitude towards truth and good is the first requirement of all when faith and charity begin to be present in a person, but the last when charity and consequently faith are established in him. This is also why the last lot fell to Dan when the land of Canaan was divided up for inheritance, Joshua 19:40 and following verses; for the lot was cast before Jehovah, Joshua 18:6.

[9] That lot fell therefore according to what each tribe represented. And since the lot to Dan did not fall among the inheritances of all the other tribes but beyond their boundaries, Judges 18:1, that tribe was also left out of the description in John, in Revelation 7:5-8, concerning each twelve thousand who had been sealed. For those who merely affirm truth and also good, but go no further, are not within the Lord's kingdom, that is, among those who have been sealed. Even very wicked people may know truths and goods, and may also affirm them; but the true nature of their affirming is recognized from the life they lead.

[10] Dan is also referred to as a boundary in Genesis 14:14, in which verse it is said that Abraham pursued his enemies as far as there, and in which verse Dan has a similar meaning. The city called Dan, it is true, had yet to be built by Dan's descendants at a later time, Joshua 19:47; Judges 18:29; but even at that time it was referred to as the first boundary when one was entering the land of Canaan but the last when one was leaving it, the inmost part of the land being Hebron, and later on Beersheba, where Abraham and Isaac lived.

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