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 #3728

Study this Passage

  
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3728. 'And poured oil on the top of it' means holy good [in which it originated]. This is clear from the meaning of 'oil' as the celestial element of love, which is good, dealt with in 886, 3009, and from the meaning of 'the top' as that which is higher, or what amounts to the same, that which is interior - good being that which is higher or interior, and truth that which is lower or exterior, as has been shown in many places. From this one may see what was meant by the ancient practice when people poured oil on the top of a pillar, namely that truth should not be devoid of good but should be grounded in good, thus that good should rule, like the head on top of the body. For truth devoid of good is not truth but is a meaningless sound and the kind of thing that is reduced to nothing. In the next life it is so reduced even with those whose knowledge of truth or matters of doctrine concerning faith, and with those whose knowledge of matters of doctrine concerning love, has been superior to anybody else's, if they have not led a good life and so have not out of a desire for good held on to truth.

[2] Consequently the Church is not the Church by virtue of truth separated from good, nor therefore by virtue of faith separated from charity, but by virtue of truth that is grounded in good, or faith that is grounded in charity. The same is also meant by what the Lord said to Jacob,

I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me. Genesis 31:13

Also,

Jacob again set up a pillar, a stone pillar, and poured out a drink-offering over it, and poured oil over it. Genesis 35:14.

'Pouring out a drink-offering over the pillar' means the Divine good of faith, and 'pouring oil over it' the Divine good of love. Anyone may see that unless it meant something celestial and spiritual, pouring oil over a stone would be a ridiculous and idolatrous action.

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