The Bible

 

Postanak 24

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1 A Avram beše star i vremenit, i Gospod beše blagoslovio Avrama u svemu;

2 I reče Avram sluzi svom najstarijem u kući svojoj, koji beše nad svim dobrom njegovim: Metni ruku svoju pod stegno moje,

3 Da te zakunem Gospodom Bogom nebeskim i Bogom zemaljskim da nećeš dovesti žene sinu mom između kćeri ovih Hananeja, među kojima živim;

4 Nego da ćeš otići u zemlju moju i u rod moj i dovesti ženu sinu mom Isaku.

5 A sluga mu reče: i ako devojka ne htedbude poći sa mnom u ovu zemlju; hoću li odvesti sina tvog u zemlju iz koje si se iselio?

6 A Avram mu reče: Pazi da ne odvedeš sina mog onamo.

7 Gospod Bog nebeski, koji me je uzeo iz doma oca mog i iz zemlje roda mog, i koji mi je rekao i zakleo mi se govoreći: Semenu ću tvom dati zemlju ovu, On će poslati anđela svog pred tobom da dovedeš ženu sinu mom odande.

8 Ako li devojka ne htedbude poći s tobom, onda da ti je prosta zakletva moja; samo sina mog nemoj odvesti onamo.

9 I metnu sluga ruku svoju pod stegno Avramu gospodaru svom, i zakle mu se za ovo.

10 Tada sluga uze deset kamila između kamila gospodara svog da ide, jer sve blago gospodara njegovog beše pod njegovom rukom; i otišavši dođe u Mesopotamiju do grada Nahorovog.

11 I pusti kamile da poležu iza grada kod studenca pred veče kad izlaze građanke da zahvataju vode;

12 I reče: Gospode Bože gospodara mog Avrama, daj mi sreću danas i učini milost gospodaru mom Avramu.

13 Evo, ja ću stajati kod ovog studenca, a građanke će doći da zahvataju vode.

14 Kojoj devojci kažem: Nagni krčag svoj da se napijem, a ona reče: Na pij, i kamile ću ti napojiti; daj to da bude ona koju si namenio sluzi svom Isaku; i po tome da poznam da si učinio milost gospodaru mom.

15 I on još ne izgovori, a to Reveka, kći Vatuila sina Melhe žene Nahora brata Avramovog, dođe s krčagom na ramenu.

16 I beše vrlo lepa, još devojka, još je čovek ne beše poznao. Ona siđe na izvor, i natoči krčag, i pođe;

17 A sluga iskoči pred nju, i reče; daj mi da se napijem malo vode iz krčaga tvog.

18 A ona reče: Na pij, gospodaru. I brže spusti krčag na ruku svoju, i napoji ga.

19 I kad ga napoji, reče: i kamilama ću tvojim naliti neka se napiju.

20 I brže izruči krčag svoj u pojilo, pa opet otrča na studenac da nalije, i nali svim kamilama njegovim.

21 A čovek joj se divljaše, i ćutaše, neće li poznati je li Gospod dao sreću putu njegovom ili nije.

22 A kad se kamile napiše, izvadi čovek zlatnu grivnu od po sikala i metnu joj oko čela, i dve narukvice metnu joj na ruke od deset sikala zlata.

23 I reče: Čija si kći? Kaži mi. Ima li u kući oca tvog mesta za nas da prenoćimo?

24 A ona mu reče: Ja sam kći Vatuila sina Melšinog, koga rodi Nahoru.

25 Još reče: Ima u nas mnogo slame i piće i mesta za noćište.

26 Tada čovek savivši se pokloni se Gospodu,

27 I reče: Blagosloven da je Gospod Bog gospodara mog Avrama, što ne ostavi milost svoju i veru svoju prema gospodaru mom, i putem dovede me Gospod u dom rodbine gospodara mog.

28 A devojka otrča i sve ovo kaza u domu matere svoje.

29 A Reveka imaše brata, kome ime beše Lavan; i istrča Lavan k čoveku na studenac,

30 Kako vide grivnu i narukvice na rukama sestre svoje i ču gde Reveka sestra mu reče: Tako mi kaza čovek; dođe k čoveku; a on stajaše kod kamila na studencu.

31 I reče: Hodi, koji si blagosloven od Gospoda; što bi stajao napolju? Spremio sam kuću, ima mesta i za kamile.

32 I dovede čoveka u kuću, i rastovari kamile; i dodaše slame i piće kamilama, i donesoše vode za noge njemu i ljudima što behu s njim;

33 I postaviše mu da jede; ali on reče: Neću jesti dokle ne kažem stvar svoju. A Lavan mu reče: Govori.

34 Tada reče: Ja sam sluga Avramov.

35 A Gospod je blagoslovio gospodara mog veoma, te je postao velik, i dao mu je ovaca i goveda, i srebra i zlata, i sluga i sluškinja, i kamila i magaraca.

36 I još Sara žena gospodara mog rodi sina gospodaru mom u starosti njegovoj, i on mu dade sve što ima.

37 A mene zakle gospodar moj govoreći: Nemoj dovesti sinu mom žene između kćeri ovih Hananeja, među kojima živim;

38 Nego idi u dom oca mog i u rod moj, da dovedeš ženu sinu mom.

39 A ja rekoh gospodaru svom:

40 Može biti da devojka neće hteti poći sa mnom.

41 A on mi reče: Gospod, po čijoj volji svagda živeh, poslaće anđela svog s tobom, i daće sreću tvom putu da dovedeš ženu sinu mom od roda mog, iz doma oca mog.

42 Onda će ti biti prosta zakletva moja, kad otideš u rod moj; ako ti je i ne dadu, opet će ti biti prosta zakletva moja.

43 I kad dođoh danas na studenac, rekoh: Gospode Bože gospodara mog Avrama, ako si dao sreću putu mom, kojim idem,

44 Evo, ja ću stajati kod studenca: koja devojka dođe da zahvati vode, i ja joj kažem: Daj mi da se napijem malo vode iz krčaga tvog,

45 A ona mi odgovori: i ti pij i kamilama ću tvojim naliti; to neka bude žena koju je namenio Gospod sinu gospodara mog.

46 Ja još ne izgovorih u srcu svom, a dođe Reveka s krčagom na ramenu, i sišavši na izvor zahvati; i ja joj rekoh: Daj mi da se napijem.

47 A ona brže spustivši sa sebe krčag reče: Na pij, i kamile ću ti napojiti. I kad se napih, napoji i kamile moje.

48 I zapitah je govoreći: Čija si kći? A ona odgovori: Ja sam kći Vatuila sina Nahorovog, kog mu rodi Melha. Tada joj metnuh grivnu oko čela i narukvice na ruke;

49 I padoh i poklonih se Gospodu, i zahvalih Gospodu Bogu gospodara mog Avrama, što me dovede pravim putem da nađem kćer brata gospodara svog za sina njegovog.

50 Ako ćete dakle učiniti ljubav i veru gospodaru mom, kažite mi; ako li nećete, kažite mi, da idem na desno ili na levo.

51 A Lavan i Vatuilo odgovarajući rekoše: Od Gospoda je ovo došlo; mi ti ne možemo kazati ni zlo ni dobro. Eto, Reveka je u tvojoj vlasti, uzmi je pa idi, i neka bude žena sinu tvog gospodara, kao što kaza Gospod.

52 A kad ču sluga Avramov reči njihove, pokloni se Gospodu do zemlje;

53 I izvadi zaklade srebrne i zlatne i haljine, i dade Reveci; takođe i bratu njenom i materi njenoj dade darove.

54 Potom jedoše i piše on i ljudi koji behu s njim, i prenoćiše. A kad ujutru ustaše, reče sluga: Pustite me gospodaru mom.

55 A brat i mati njena rekoše: Neka ostane devojka kod nas koji dan, barem deset dana, pa onda neka ide.

56 A on im reče: Nemojte me zadržavati, kad je Gospod dao sreću mom putu; pustite me da idem gospodaru svom.

57 Tada rekoše: Da zovemo devojku, i upitamo šta ona veli.

58 I dozvaše Reveku i rekoše joj: Hoćeš ići s ovim čovekom? A ona odgovori: Hoću.

59 I pustiše Reveku sestru svoju i dojkinju njenu sa slugom Avramovim i ljudima njegovim.

60 I blagosloviše Reveku i rekoše joj: Sestro naša, da se namnožiš na hiljade hiljada, i seme tvoje da nasledi vrata svojih neprijatelja!

61 I podiže se Reveka s devojkama svojim, i posedaše na kamile, i pođoše s čovekom; i sluga uzevši Reveku otide.

62 A Isak iđaše vraćajući se od studenca Živoga koji me vide jer življaše u južnom kraju;

63 A beše izašao Isak u polje pred veče da se pomoli Bogu; i podigavši oči svoje ugleda kamile gde idu.

64 I Reveka podigavši oči svoje ugleda Isaka, te skoči s kamile,

65 I reče sluzi: Ko je onaj čovek što ide preko polja pred nas? A sluga reče: Ono je gospodar moj. I ona uze pokrivalo i pokri lice.

66 I pripovedi sluga Isaku sve što je svršio.

67 I odvede je Isak u šator Sare matere svoje; i uze Reveku, i ona mu posta žena, i omile mu. I Isak se uteši za materom svojom.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #3175

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3175. Let the damsel remain with us. That this signifies a detention by them, appears from the signification of “remaining,” as here being to be detained, as is also evident from the series in the internal sense. For the case is this: Man is never born into any truth, not even into any natural truth-as that he should not steal, should not kill, should not commit adultery, and the like; still less is he born into any spiritual truth-as that there is a God, and that he has an internal which will live after death. Thus of himself man knows nothing that relates to eternal life. Man learns both these kinds of truth; otherwise he would be much worse than a brute animal; for from his hereditary nature he loves himself above all and desires to possess all things in the world. Hence unless he were restrained by civil laws and by fears for the loss of honor, of gain, of reputation, and of life, he would steal, kill, and commit adultery, without any perception of conscience. That this is the case is very evident; for a man, even when instructed, commits such crimes without conscience, nay, defends them, and by many considerations confirms himself in the commission of them so far as he is allowed; what then would he not do if he had not been instructed? The case is the same in spiritual things; for of those who are born within the church, who have the Word, and are constantly instructed, there are still very many who ascribe little or nothing to God, but everything to nature; thus who do not at heart believe that there is any God, and therefore do not believe that they shall live after death; and who accordingly have no wish to learn anything relating to eternal life.

[2] From all this it is evident that man is born into no truth, but that he has all to learn, and this by an external way, namely, that of hearing and seeing. By this way truth has to be insinuated, and implanted in his memory; but so long as the truth is there only, it is merely memory-knowledge; and in order that truth may pervade the man it must be called forth thence, and be conveyed more toward the interiors; for his human is more internal, being in his rational; for unless man is rational, he is not man; and therefore according to the quality and the measure of a man’s rational, such is the quality and the measure of the man. Man cannot possibly be rational unless he possesses good. The good whereby man surpasses the animals, is to love God, and to love the neighbor; all human good is from this. Into this good truth must be initiated and conjoined, and this in the rational. Truth is initiated into good and conjoined with it when man loves God and loves his neighbor, for then truth enters into good, inasmuch as good and truth mutually acknowledge each other, all truth being from good, and having respect to good as its end and as its soul, and thus as the source of its life.

[3] But truth cannot without difficulty be separated from the natural man, and be thence elevated into the rational; for in the natural man there are fallacies, and cupidities of evil, and also persuasions of falsity; and so long as these are there and adjoin themselves to the truth, so long the natural man detains truth with himself, and does not suffer it to be elevated from itself into the rational; and this is what is signified in the internal sense by the words, “Let the damsel remain with us days, at least ten, afterwards thou shalt go.” The reason is that the natural man puts truth in doubt, and reasons about it as to whether it is so; but as soon as the cupidities of evil and persuasions of falsity, and the derivative fallacies, are separated by the Lord, and the man begins from good to be averse to reasonings against truth, and to be superior to doubts, then truth is in a state to depart from the natural and to be elevated into the rational, and to put on a state of good; for then truth becomes of good and has life.

[4] For the better comprehension of this, let us take examples. It is a spiritual truth that all good is from the Lord, and all evil from hell: this truth must in many ways be confirmed and illustrated before it can be elevated out of the natural man into the rational, nor can it ever be elevated until the man is in the love of God; for before this it is not acknowledged, consequently is not believed. The case is similar in regard to other truths, as in regard to the truth that the Divine Providence is in the veriest singulars; and that unless it is in these, it is not in what is universal. Again: in regard to the truth that man first begins to live when that perishes which in the world he believes to be the all of life; and that the life which he then receives is relatively ineffable and unlimited; and that he is altogether ignorant of this so long as he is in evil-these and similar truths can never be believed, unless the man is in good; for it is good which comprehends, because the Lord through good flows in with wisdom.

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