The Bible

 

Postanak 14

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1 A kad beše Amarfal car senarski, Arion car elasarski, Hodologomor car elamski i Targal car gojimski,

2 Zavojevaše na Valu cara sodomskog, i na Varsu cara gomorskog, i na Senara cara adamskog, i na Simovora cara sevojimskog i na cara od Valake, koja je sada Sigor.

3 Svi se ovi skupiše u dolini sidimskoj koja je sada slano more.

4 Dvanaest godina behu služili Hodologomoru, pa trinaeste godine odmetnuše se.

5 A četrnaeste godine dođe Hodologomor i carevi koji behu s njim, i pobiše Rafaje u Astarotu karnajimskom i Zuzeje u Amu i Omeje u polju kirijatajskom,

6 I Horeje u planini njihovoj Siru do ravnice Faranske pokraj pustinje.

7 Od tuda vrativši se dođoše u En-Mispat, koji je sada Kadis, i isekoše sve koji živehu u zemlji amaličkoj, i Amoreje koji živehu u Asason-Tamaru.

8 Tada iziđe car sodomski i car gomorski i car adamski i car sevojimski i car od Valake, koje je sada Sigor, izađoše na njih u dolinu sidimsku,

9 Na Hodologomora cara elamskog, i na Targala cara gojimskog, i na Amarfala cara senarskog, i na Arioha cara elasarskog, četiri cara na pet.

10 A u dolini sidimskoj beše mnogo rupa iz kojih se vadila smola; i pobeže car sodomski i car gomorski, i onde padoše, a šta osta pobeže u planinu.

11 I uzeše sve blago u Sodomu i Gomoru i svu hranu njihovu, i otidoše.

12 Uzeše i Lota, sinovca Avramovog, i blago njegovo, i otidoše, jer živeše u Sodomu.

13 A dođe jedan koji beše utekao, te javi Avramu Jevrejinu, koji živeše u ravni Mamrija Amorejina, brata Esholu i brata Avnanu, koji behu u veri s Avramom.

14 A kad Avram ču da mu se zarobio sinovac, naoruža sluge svoje, trista osamnaest, koji se rodiše u njegovoj kući, i pođe u poteru do Dana.

15 Onde razdelivši svoje udari na njih noću sa slugama svojim, i razbi ih, i otera ih do Hovala, koji je na levo od Damaska,

16 I povrati sve blago; povrati i Lota sinovca svog s blagom njegovim, i žene i ljude.

17 A car sodomski iziđe mu na susret kad se vrati razbivši Hodologomora i careve što behu s njim, u dolinu Savinu, koje je sada dolina careva.

18 A Melhisedek car salimski iznese hleb i vino; a on beše sveštenik Boga Višnjeg.

19 I blagoslovi ga govoreći: Blagosloven da je Avram Bogu Višnjem, čije je nebo i zemlja!

20 I blagosloven da je Bog Višnji, koji predade neprijatelje tvoje u ruke tvoje! I dade mu Avram desetak od svega.

21 A car sodomski reče Avramu: Daj meni ljude, a blago uzmi sebi.

22 A Avram reče caru sodomskom: Dižem ruku svoju ka Gospodu Bogu Višnjem, čije je nebo i zemlja, zaklinjući se:

23 Ni konca ni remena od obuće neću uzeti od svega što je tvoje, da ne kažeš: Ja sam obogatio Avrama;

24 Osim što su pojeli momci, i osim dela ljudima koji su išli sa mnom, Esholu, Avnanu i Mamriju, oni neka uzmu svoj deo.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #1749

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1749. That 'nor anything that is yours will I take' means that nothing of that nature exists with celestial love becomes clear from the fact that Abram said he was unwilling to take anything from the king of Sodom. 'Abram' represented the Lord, who was now the victor, and so represented the things that belonged to celestial love, which He acquired to Himself by means of victories. 'The king of Sodom' represented evil and falsity, nothing of which existed with the Lord the victor, that is, with celestial love.

[2] What these words are used to mean in the internal sense cannot become clear unless the situation in the next life is known. Among evil and hellish spirits self-love and love of the world reign; consequently they imagine that they are the gods of the universe and can accomplish much. When they have been overcome, even though they realize that they can achieve nothing at all, the notion of their own power and dominion still remains with them, and they imagine that they themselves are able to contribute much to the Lord's power and dominion. Consequently in order that they may reign together with good spirits they offer them their services. But because it is nothing but evil and falsity by means of which they imagine they can achieve anything, while with the Lord, or celestial love, nothing but good and truth reside, the reply made here to the king of Sodom, who represents such people, means that nothing of that nature existed with the Lord, that is, none of the Lord's power came from evil and falsity.

[3] Dominion from evil and falsity is the complete reverse of dominion from good and truth. Dominion from evil and falsity consists in the desire to make slaves of everybody else, but dominion from good and truth consists in the desire to make them free men. Dominion from evil and falsity consists in destroying all people, but dominion from good and truth in saving them. From these considerations it is clear that dominion from evil and falsity is the devil's, while dominion from good and truth is the Lord's. That these types of dominion are complete opposites becomes clear from the Lord's words in Matthew 12:24-30, and from His saying that nobody can serve two masters, Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13.

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