The Bible

 

Postanak 33

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1 A Jakov podigavši oči svoje pogleda, a to Isav ide, i četiri stotine ljudi s njim. I razdeli decu uz Liju i uz Rahilju i uz dve robinje.

2 I namesti napred robinje i njihovu decu, pa Liju i njenu decu za njima, a najposle Rahilju i Josifa.

3 A sam prođe napred, i pokloni se do zemlje sedam puta dokle dođe do brata svog.

4 A Isav pritrča preda nj i zagrli ga i pade mu oko vrata i celiva ga, i obojica se zaplakaše,

5 I Isav podigavši oči ugleda žene i decu, pa reče: Ko su ti ono? A Jakov reče: Deca, koju Bog milostivo darova sluzi tvom.

6 I pristupiše robinje s decom svojom, i pokloniše se.

7 Potom pristupi i Lija i deca njena, i pokloniše se; a najposle pristupi Josif i Rahilja, i pokloniše se.

8 A Isav reče: Šta će ti čitava vojska ona koju sretoh? A on reče: Da nađem milost pred gospodarem svojim.

9 A Isav reče: Ima, brate, u mene dosta; neka tebi šta je tvoje.

10 A Jakov reče: Ne; ako sam sada našao milost pred tobom, primi dar iz moje ruke, jer videh lice tvoje kao da videh lice Božje, tako si me lepo dočekao.

11 Primi dar moj, koji ti je doveden; jer me je obilato obdario Bog, i imam svega. I navali na nj, te primi.

12 Posle reče Isav: Hajde da idemo, ići ću i ja s tobom.

13 A Jakov mu reče: Zna gospodar moj da su ova deca nejaka, i imam ovaca i krava dojilica, pa ako ih usteram jedan dan, poginuće mi sve stado.

14 Nego gospodar moj neka ide pred slugom svojim, a ja ću polako ići, koliko mogu deca i stoka, dokle dođem ka gospodaru svom u Sir.

15 A Isav reče: A ono da ti ostavim nekoliko ljudi što su sa mnom. A on reče: Na šta? Daj da nađem milost pred gospodarem svojim.

16 I tako Isav vrati se isti dan svojim putem u Sir.

17 A Jakov otide u Sokot, i onde načini sebi kuću a stoci svojoj načini staje; zato nazva ono mesto Sokot.

18 Posle dođe Jakov zdravo u grad Sihem u zemlji hananskoj, vrativši se iz Padan-Arama, i namesti se prema gradu.

19 I kupi komad zemlje, gde razape šator svoj, od sinova Emora oca Sihemovog za sto novaca.

20 I načini onde žrtvenik, i nazva ga: Silni Bog Izrailjev.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #4347

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4347. And bowed himself to the earth seven times. That this signifies the submission of all things, is evident from the signification of “bowing one’s self to the earth,” as being an effect of humiliation (n. 2153), consequently submission. The highest degree of submission is signified by “seven times,” and the submission of all things by “Jacob’s bowing himself;” for Jacob represents the universal of all things (as stated just above, n. 4346).

[2] As regards humiliation and submission, few know why this must be in presence of the Divine when man is in worship; and consequently they do not know what it effects. They who are not in the knowledge of interior things cannot believe otherwise than that the Divine wills the humiliation and submission of man, as a man does who is in the lust of glory; and consequently that the Divine wills glory therefrom, and is affected with the glory which man ascribes to Him. But the case is altogether different. The Divine is not in any affection of glory, for what glory has the Divine from man? But He wills humiliation and submission, not for His own, but for man’s sake. For when man is in humiliation he feels aversion for the evil and falsity in him (n. 2327, 2423, 3994), and thus removes them, and on their removal the Divine can flow in with good and truth. Everyone may be aware of this in himself. He who is of elated mind is in the love of self, and not only sets himself above others, but also cares nothing for the Divine, and consequently rejects the influx of good, and thence its conjunction with truths. This is the genuine reason for man’s humiliation before the Divine.

[3] It is therefore manifest that good cannot be conjoined with truths, thus that man cannot be regenerated, unless he humbles and submits himself. Humiliation and submission are predicated of truths because truths flow in through the external man, but good through the internal; and the things that inflow through the external man are attended with fallacies and the consequent falsities with their affections; whereas this is not the case with the things that inflow through the internal man, because it is the Divine that flows in through this, and comes to meet truths, in order that they may be conjoined. From this it is now manifest what is meant by the submission of all things, which is signified by Jacob’s “bowing himself to the earth seven times, until he drew near even unto his brother.”

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