The Bible

 

Bereshit 30

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1 ותרא רחל כי לא ילדה ליעקב ותקנא רחל באחתה ותאמר אל יעקב הבה לי בנים ואם אין מתה אנכי׃

2 ויחר אף יעקב ברחל ויאמר התחת אלהים אנכי אשר מנע ממך פרי בטן׃

3 ותאמר הנה אמתי בלהה בא אליה ותלד על ברכי ואבנה גם אנכי ממנה׃

4 ותתן לו את בלהה שפחתה לאשה ויבא אליה יעקב׃

5 ותהר בלהה ותלד ליעקב בן׃

6 ותאמר רחל דנני אלהים וגם שמע בקלי ויתן לי בן על כן קראה שמו דן׃

7 ותהר עוד ותלד בלהה שפחת רחל בן שני ליעקב׃

8 ותאמר רחל נפתולי אלהים נפתלתי עם אחתי גם יכלתי ותקרא שמו נפתלי׃

9 ותרא לאה כי עמדה מלדת ותקח את זלפה שפחתה ותתן אתה ליעקב לאשה׃

10 ותלד זלפה שפחת לאה ליעקב בן׃

11 ותאמר לאה בגד ותקרא את שמו גד׃

12 ותלד זלפה שפחת לאה בן שני ליעקב׃

13 ותאמר לאה באשרי כי אשרוני בנות ותקרא את שמו אשר׃

14 וילך ראובן בימי קציר חטים וימצא דודאים בשדה ויבא אתם אל לאה אמו ותאמר רחל אל לאה תני נא לי מדודאי בנך׃

15 ותאמר לה המעט קחתך את אישי ולקחת גם את דודאי בני ותאמר רחל לכן ישכב עמך הלילה תחת דודאי בנך׃

16 ויבא יעקב מן השדה בערב ותצא לאה לקראתו ותאמר אלי תבוא כי שכר שכרתיך בדודאי בני וישכב עמה בלילה הוא׃

17 וישמע אלהים אל לאה ותהר ותלד ליעקב בן חמישי׃

18 ותאמר לאה נתן אלהים שכרי אשר נתתי שפחתי לאישי ותקרא שמו יששכר׃

19 ותהר עוד לאה ותלד בן ששי ליעקב׃

20 ותאמר לאה זבדני אלהים אתי זבד טוב הפעם יזבלני אישי כי ילדתי לו ששה בנים ותקרא את שמו זבלון׃

21 ואחר ילדה בת ותקרא את שמה דינה׃

22 ויזכר אלהים את רחל וישמע אליה אלהים ויפתח את רחמה׃

23 ותהר ותלד בן ותאמר אסף אלהים את חרפתי׃

24 ותקרא את שמו יוסף לאמר יסף יהוה לי בן אחר׃

25 ויהי כאשר ילדה רחל את יוסף ויאמר יעקב אל לבן שלחני ואלכה אל מקומי ולארצי׃

26 תנה את נשי ואת ילדי אשר עבדתי אתך בהן ואלכה כי אתה ידעת את עבדתי אשר עבדתיך׃

27 ויאמר אליו לבן אם נא מצאתי חן בעיניך נחשתי ויברכני יהוה בגללך׃

28 ויאמר נקבה שכרך עלי ואתנה׃

29 ויאמר אליו אתה ידעת את אשר עבדתיך ואת אשר היה מקנך אתי׃

30 כי מעט אשר היה לך לפני ויפרץ לרב ויברך יהוה אתך לרגלי ועתה מתי אעשה גם אנכי לביתי׃

31 ויאמר מה אתן לך ויאמר יעקב לא תתן לי מאומה אם תעשה לי הדבר הזה אשובה ארעה צאנך אשמר׃

32 אעבר בכל צאנך היום הסר משם כל שה נקד וטלוא וכל שה חום בכשבים וטלוא ונקד בעזים והיה שכרי׃

33 וענתה בי צדקתי ביום מחר כי תבוא על שכרי לפניך כל אשר איננו נקד וטלוא בעזים וחום בכשבים גנוב הוא אתי׃

34 ויאמר לבן הן לו יהי כדברך׃

35 ויסר ביום ההוא את התישים העקדים והטלאים ואת כל העזים הנקדות והטלאת כל אשר לבן בו וכל חום בכשבים ויתן ביד בניו׃

36 וישם דרך שלשת ימים בינו ובין יעקב ויעקב רעה את צאן לבן הנותרת׃

37 ויקח לו יעקב מקל לבנה לח ולוז וערמון ויפצל בהן פצלות לבנות מחשף הלבן אשר על המקלות׃

38 ויצג את המקלות אשר פצל ברהטים בשקתות המים אשר תבאן הצאן לשתות לנכח הצאן ויחמנה בבאן לשתות׃

39 ויחמו הצאן אל המקלות ותלדן הצאן עקדים נקדים וטלאים׃

40 והכשבים הפריד יעקב ויתן פני הצאן אל עקד וכל חום בצאן לבן וישת לו עדרים לבדו ולא שתם על צאן לבן׃

41 והיה בכל יחם הצאן המקשרות ושם יעקב את המקלות לעיני הצאן ברהטים ליחמנה במקלות׃

42 ובהעטיף הצאן לא ישים והיה העטפים ללבן והקשרים ליעקב׃

43 ויפרץ האיש מאד מאד ויהי לו צאן רבות ושפחות ועבדים וגמלים וחמרים׃

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #3832

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3832. And made a feast. That this signifies initiation, is evident from the signification of a “feast,” as being appropriation and conjunction (see n. 3596); in the present case initiation, because initiation precedes conjunction, and likewise pledges and attests it. The feasts made in old times among those who were in significatives and representatives, signified nothing else than initiation into the mutual love which is of charity. The nuptial feasts also signified initiation into conjugial love; and the holy feasts, initiation into spiritual and celestial love; and this because feasting, or eating and drinking, signified appropriation and conjunction (as shown above, n. 3734). Because of this signification the Lord also said with the same meaning:

Many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of the heavens (Matthew 8:11).

And in another place, to His disciples:

That ye may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom (Luke 22:30).

And when He instituted the Holy Supper, He said:

I say unto you, that I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom (Matthew 26:29).

Everyone may see that by “sitting down, eating and drinking in the Lord’s kingdom,” is not signified sitting down, eating, and drinking; but something which exists in that kingdom, and is the appropriation of the good of love and the truth of faith; thus it signifies that which is called spiritual and celestial food. It is also manifest from the above words that there is an internal sense in all that the Lord spoke, and that without understanding this it cannot be known what it is to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to eat and drink in the Lord’s kingdom at His table, and to drink with them of the fruit of that vine in the kingdom of His Father; nay, neither can it be known what is meant by eating bread and drinking wine in the Holy Supper.

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

The Bible

 

Matthew 26

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1 It happened, when Jesus had finished all these words, that he said to his disciples,

2 "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified."

3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.

4 They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him.

5 But they said, "Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people."

6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

7 a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.

8 But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste?

9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor."

10 However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? Because she has done a good work for me.

11 For you always have the poor with you; but you don't always have me.

12 For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

13 Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her."

14 Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,

15 and said, "What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver him to you?" They weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver.

16 From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

17 Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?"

18 He said, "Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples."'"

19 The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover.

20 Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.

21 As they were eating, he said, "Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me."

22 They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, "It isn't me, is it, Lord?"

23 He answered, "He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me.

24 The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born."

25 Judas, who betrayed him, answered, "It isn't me, is it, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You said it."

26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."

27 He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, "All of you drink it,

28 for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.

29 But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's Kingdom."

30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee."

33 But Peter answered him, "Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble."

34 Jesus said to him, "Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."

35 Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you." All of the disciples also said likewise.

36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go there and pray."

37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled.

38 Then he said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me."

39 He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire."

40 He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What, couldn't you watch with me for one hour?

41 Watch and pray, that you don't enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

42 Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cup can't pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done."

43 He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

44 He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.

45 Then he came to his disciples, and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46 Arise, let's be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand."

47 While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priest and elders of the people.

48 Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, "Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him."

49 Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed him.

50 Jesus said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

51 Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.

52 Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.

53 Or do you think that I couldn't ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?

54 How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?"

55 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn't arrest me.

56 But all this has happened, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left him, and fled.

57 Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.

58 But Peter followed him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end.

59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;

60 and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward,

61 and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.'"

62 The high priest stood up, and said to him, "Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?"

63 But Jesus held his peace. The high priest answered him, "I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."

64 Jesus said to him, "You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky."

65 Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.

66 What do you think?" They answered, "He is worthy of death!"

67 Then they spit in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,

68 saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?"

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, "You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!"

70 But he denied it before them all, saying, "I don't know what you are talking about."

71 When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him, and said to those who were there, "This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth."

72 Again he denied it with an oath, "I don't know the man."

73 After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, "Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known."

74 Then he began to curse and to swear, "I don't know the man!" Immediately the rooster crowed.

75 Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." He went out and wept bitterly.