The Bible

 

Postanak 28

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1 Tada Isak dozva Jakova, i blagoslovi ga, i zapovedi mu i reče: Nemoj da se oženiš kojom između kćeri hananejskih.

2 Ustani, idi u Padan-Aram u dom Vatuila oca matere svoje, i odande se oženi između kćeri Lavana ujaka svog.

3 A Bog Svemogući da te blagoslovi, i da ti da veliku porodicu i umnoži te, da od tebe postane mnoštvo naroda,

4 I da ti da blagoslov Avramov, tebi i semenu tvom s tobom, da naslediš zemlju u kojoj si došljak, koju Bog dade Avramu.

5 Tako opravi Isak Jakova, i on pođe u Padan-Aram k Lavanu sinu Vatuila Sirina, bratu Reveke matere Jakovljeve i Isavove.

6 A Isav vide gde Isak blagoslovi Jakova i opravi ga u Padan-Aram da se odande oženi, i gde blagosiljajući ga zapovedi mu i reče: Nemoj da se oženiš kojom između kćeri hananejskih,

7 I gde Jakov posluša oca svog i mater svoju, i otide u Padan-Aram;

8 I vide Isav da kćeri hananejske nisu po volji Isaku ocu njegovom.

9 Pa otide Isav k Ismailu, i uze za ženu preko žena svojih Maeletu, kćer Ismaila sina Avramovog, sestru Naveotovu.

10 A Jakov otide od Virsaveje idući u Haran.

11 I dođe na jedno mesto, i onde zanoći, jer sunce beše zašlo; i uze kamen na onom mestu, i metnu ga sebi pod glavu, i zaspa na onom mestu.

12 I usni, a to lestve stajahu na zemlji a vrhom ticahu u nebo, i gle, anđeli Božji po njima se penjahu i silažahu;

13 I gle, na vrhu stajaše Gospod, i reče: Ja sam Gospod Bog Avrama oca tvog i Bog Isakov; tu zemlju na kojoj spavaš tebi ću dati i semenu tvom;

14 I semena će tvog biti kao praha na zemlji, te ćeš se raširiti na zapad i na istok i na sever i na jug, i svi narodi na zemlji blagosloviće se u tebi i u semenu tvom.

15 I evo, ja sam s tobom, i čuvaću te kuda god pođeš, i dovešću te natrag u ovu zemlju, jer te neću ostaviti dokle god ne učinim šta ti rekoh.

16 A kad se Jakov probudi od sna, reče: Zacelo je Gospod na ovom mestu; a ja ne znah.

17 I uplaši se, i reče: Kako je strašno mesto ovo! Ovde je doista kuća Božja, i ovo su vrata nebeska.

18 I usta Jakov ujutru rano, i uze kamen što beše metnuo sebi pod glavu, i utvrdi ga za spomen i preli ga uljem.

19 I prozva ono mesto Vetilj, a pre beše ime onom gradu Luz.

20 I učini Jakov zavet, govoreći: Ako Bog bude sa mnom i sačuva me na putu kojim idem i da mi hleba da jedem i odela da se oblačim,

21 I ako se vratim na miru u dom oca svog, Gospod će mi biti Bog;

22 A kamen ovaj koji utvrdih za spomen biće dom Božji; i šta mi god daš, od svega ću deseto dati Tebi.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #2723

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2723. As regards Beersheba however, 'Beersheba' means the state and the essential nature of the doctrine, that is to say, it is Divine doctrine to which merely human rational ideas have been allied. This becomes clear from the train of thought in verse 22 to the present verse, 2613, 2614, and also from the meaning of the actual expression in the original language as 'the well of the oath' and 'the well of seven'. 'A well' means the doctrine of faith, see 2702, 2720, 'an oath' means a joining together, 2720, as does 'the covenant established with an oath', 1996, 2003, 2021, 2037; and 'seven' means that which is holy and so that which is Divine, 395, 433, 716, 881. From these meanings it may become clear that 'Beersheba' means doctrine which in itself is Divine together with merely human rational ideas or appearances allied to it.

[2] The fact that this is how the name Beersheba was derived is evident from Abraham's words,

Abraham said, Because you will take the seven ewe-lambs from my hand, that they may be a witness for me that I dug this well. Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there the two of them swore an oath. And they made a covenant in Beersheba (verses 30-32).

Similarly from Isaac's words recorded in Chapter 26,

So it was on that day, that Isaac's servants came and pointed out to him the reasons for the well which they had dug, and they said to him, We have found water. And he called it Shibah ('an oath' and 'seven'); therefore the name of the city is Beersheba even to this day. Genesis 26:32-33.

This too has to do with wells, about which there was disagreement with Abimelech, and with a covenant made with him. 'Beersheba' means merely human rational ideas which were again allied to the doctrine of faith, and because they were allied to it again and the doctrine was in that way made such that the human mind could grasp it, it is called 'a city' - 'a city' being doctrine in its entirety, see 402, 2268, 2449, 2451. What is more, the name Beersheba is used with a similar meaning in the internal sense in Genesis 22:19; 26:23; 28:10; 46:1, 5; Joshua 15:28; 19:1-2; 1 Samuel 8:2; 1 Kings 19:3, and in the contrary sense in Amos 5:5; 8:13-14. The whole range of celestial and spiritual things taught by doctrine is meant in the internal sense where the land of Canaan is said to range from 'Dan even to Beersheba'; for the land of Canaan means the Lord's kingdom, also the Church, and therefore means the celestial and spiritual things taught by doctrine, as in the Book of Judges.

All the children of Israel came out, and the congregation assembled as one man from Dan even to Beersheba. Judges 20:1.

In the Book of Samuel,

All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba. 1 Samuel 3:20.

Elsewhere in Samuel,

To translate 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.

Elsewhere in Samuel,

Hushai said to Absalom, Let all Israel be assembled together, from Dan even to Beersheba. 2 Samuel 17:11.

Elsewhere in Samuel, David told Joab to go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan even to Beersheba. 2 Samuel 24:2, 7.

Elsewhere in Samuel,

There died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men. 2 Samuel 24:15.

In the Book of Kings,

Judah dwelt under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. 1 Kings 4:25.

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